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ROB Hall’s tasty performance at Scunthorpe United may have given Neil Lennon some food for thought – but has the wide man left it too late to prevent a Wanderers exit?
Just a couple of weeks ago the young winger was preparing for a return to MK Dons on loan, freeing up a small amount of cash to be spent elsewhere.
Injuries in Lennon’s squad have seemingly held up his departure but will the 21-year-old’s recent form force the Whites boss into a change of heart and earn him more time to earn a regular spot, or does the delicate financial balance at the club mean his fate is already sealed?
Certainly, Hall’s busy display at Glanford Park was one of the most encouraging he has made in a Wanderers shirt, his movement and link-up play with Gary Madine and Liam Feeney later described as “excellent” by his manager.
Whether that adds up to a stay of execution for the former West Ham trainee, however, remains to be seen. Indeed, it could give us an interesting indication of just how fiscally tight things really are at Wanderers.
Lennon has gone on record several times to say he has cleared out plenty of wages from the budget by selling on the likes of Alex Baptiste, Matt Mills, Adam Bogdan and Co this summer. And that indicates he feels the club is ready to buy without then balancing the books.
But the lack of transfer activity over the last few weeks, in or out, suggests otherwise and that the ‘one-in, one-out’ policy that the manager talked about just a month ago is still very much in operation.
Lennon has vented his frustration, not knowing his exact budget, and pleaded for patience from an increasingly-impatient set of fans.
“It’s not as easy as people think,” he said last Friday, summing up the struggles he has had bringing new signings through the door.
But at the same time, the manager has openly admitted contract talks are taking place with Emile Heskey, Lawrie Wilson and Stephen Dobbie. All three players, one can assume, would sit comfortably in the current wage budget but the lack of progress is a concern.
Increasingly, Lennon has used the word “hope” rather than “expect” when speaking about his transfer dealings.
Sources within the club remain cautiously optimistic that agreements with all three players mentioned above could be reached by the end of the week, but whether that is coupled with an outgoing player is the million dollar question.
If the financial balance is as delicate as it seems, Hall may be sacrificed out on loan regardless of how well he has fared in the last couple of games.
Counting against the winger are the clauses inserted into his contract last summer when he signed from West Ham via a tribunal. The Hammers receive extra payments depending on the number of games he plays for Wanderers, and so he might be viewed as an expense they cannot afford at present.
Indeed weekend reports suggested a replacement has already been lined up, with Lennon said to be keen on Manchester City academy product Brandon Barker, who is currently being touted among Championship clubs for first team experience.
The 19-year-old would join an expanding queue of deals waiting to be done at the Macron, with the season drawing ever-closer, although his arrival does not currently look like a priority with other positions in much more urgent demand.
Lennon remains without a specialist right-back or a senior back-up keeper 11 days before the Championship season begins against Derby County, the bookies’ favourite to lift the title next May.
And that deadline, if nothing else, should ensure every effort is being made to force deals through.
Lennon saw one of his top targets, Ryan Taylor, officially sign for Hull City yesterday after weeks of speculation.
Wanderers had jumped the front of the queue this summer and offered the defender a contract on his departure at Newcastle United.
That offer remained on the table up until a couple of weeks ago, and presumably those funds are now being diverted into ‘Plan B’ in ex-Charlton full-back Wilson.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/13502951.Hall_or_nothing__Is_winger_s_Wanderers_fate_already_sealed_/?ref=ar
Just a couple of weeks ago the young winger was preparing for a return to MK Dons on loan, freeing up a small amount of cash to be spent elsewhere.
Injuries in Lennon’s squad have seemingly held up his departure but will the 21-year-old’s recent form force the Whites boss into a change of heart and earn him more time to earn a regular spot, or does the delicate financial balance at the club mean his fate is already sealed?
Certainly, Hall’s busy display at Glanford Park was one of the most encouraging he has made in a Wanderers shirt, his movement and link-up play with Gary Madine and Liam Feeney later described as “excellent” by his manager.
Whether that adds up to a stay of execution for the former West Ham trainee, however, remains to be seen. Indeed, it could give us an interesting indication of just how fiscally tight things really are at Wanderers.
Lennon has gone on record several times to say he has cleared out plenty of wages from the budget by selling on the likes of Alex Baptiste, Matt Mills, Adam Bogdan and Co this summer. And that indicates he feels the club is ready to buy without then balancing the books.
But the lack of transfer activity over the last few weeks, in or out, suggests otherwise and that the ‘one-in, one-out’ policy that the manager talked about just a month ago is still very much in operation.
Lennon has vented his frustration, not knowing his exact budget, and pleaded for patience from an increasingly-impatient set of fans.
“It’s not as easy as people think,” he said last Friday, summing up the struggles he has had bringing new signings through the door.
But at the same time, the manager has openly admitted contract talks are taking place with Emile Heskey, Lawrie Wilson and Stephen Dobbie. All three players, one can assume, would sit comfortably in the current wage budget but the lack of progress is a concern.
Increasingly, Lennon has used the word “hope” rather than “expect” when speaking about his transfer dealings.
Sources within the club remain cautiously optimistic that agreements with all three players mentioned above could be reached by the end of the week, but whether that is coupled with an outgoing player is the million dollar question.
If the financial balance is as delicate as it seems, Hall may be sacrificed out on loan regardless of how well he has fared in the last couple of games.
Counting against the winger are the clauses inserted into his contract last summer when he signed from West Ham via a tribunal. The Hammers receive extra payments depending on the number of games he plays for Wanderers, and so he might be viewed as an expense they cannot afford at present.
Indeed weekend reports suggested a replacement has already been lined up, with Lennon said to be keen on Manchester City academy product Brandon Barker, who is currently being touted among Championship clubs for first team experience.
The 19-year-old would join an expanding queue of deals waiting to be done at the Macron, with the season drawing ever-closer, although his arrival does not currently look like a priority with other positions in much more urgent demand.
Lennon remains without a specialist right-back or a senior back-up keeper 11 days before the Championship season begins against Derby County, the bookies’ favourite to lift the title next May.
And that deadline, if nothing else, should ensure every effort is being made to force deals through.
Lennon saw one of his top targets, Ryan Taylor, officially sign for Hull City yesterday after weeks of speculation.
Wanderers had jumped the front of the queue this summer and offered the defender a contract on his departure at Newcastle United.
That offer remained on the table up until a couple of weeks ago, and presumably those funds are now being diverted into ‘Plan B’ in ex-Charlton full-back Wilson.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/13502951.Hall_or_nothing__Is_winger_s_Wanderers_fate_already_sealed_/?ref=ar