Home
Wanderers are bracing themselves for a raid on one of the heroes of Saturday’s crucial win against MK Dons.
Ipswich Town are ready to step up long-standing interest in captain Darren Pratley in the next few days.
Although Wanderers are in their healthiest financial position for months, with the sale of car parking land to Middlebrook Retail Park expected to be confirmed today, it is unlikely that Neil Lennon will see any of the cash to strengthen his squad.
In fact, Lennon is expecting to be told he must reduce the wage bill further before the end of January to ease the pressure on the rest of the season.
Mick McCarthy’s side are looking to strengthen as their play-off charge stalled in recent weeks.
No bids have yet been received by the club for Pratley – or any other first-team player – but Lennon expects that to change.
“It has gone a little quiet but I’d be surprised if my phone doesn’t start ringing next week,” he said.
Wanderers gave themselves a glimmer of hope in their fight against relegation with a stunning 3-1 win at the Macron Stadium, courtesy of goals from Rob Holding, Pratley and Shola Ameobi – whose contract has now officially expired.
Lennon was delighted to spread a bit of cheer in a week when staff were told they would not be paid on time and the club twice found itself in a court-room to safeguard its future.
“It has been a really tough time – worse than anything I’ve ever had in my career,” he told The Bolton News.
“It has been hard to keep morale up and not just on the football side of things, but on the admin and staff side too.
“The supporters were again fantastic. It felt like we were going for a play-off place let alone a relegation battle.”
Pratley was a driving force behind Saturday’s win, scoring his third goal in four games just before half time. Lennon feels he is now starting to play his best football again for the Whites but admits others in the division have caught on.
“There was interest in him and I think there is still interest in him this month as well,” he said. “He has been superb. He is starting to show the form he had last season before he got that really bad hamstring injury.
“He is pitching in, not only with all round good performances, but goals as well. That’s the reason we kept him on.
“He is captain material and he is starting to drive the team forward.”
Source
Ipswich Town are ready to step up long-standing interest in captain Darren Pratley in the next few days.
Although Wanderers are in their healthiest financial position for months, with the sale of car parking land to Middlebrook Retail Park expected to be confirmed today, it is unlikely that Neil Lennon will see any of the cash to strengthen his squad.
In fact, Lennon is expecting to be told he must reduce the wage bill further before the end of January to ease the pressure on the rest of the season.
Mick McCarthy’s side are looking to strengthen as their play-off charge stalled in recent weeks.
No bids have yet been received by the club for Pratley – or any other first-team player – but Lennon expects that to change.
“It has gone a little quiet but I’d be surprised if my phone doesn’t start ringing next week,” he said.
Wanderers gave themselves a glimmer of hope in their fight against relegation with a stunning 3-1 win at the Macron Stadium, courtesy of goals from Rob Holding, Pratley and Shola Ameobi – whose contract has now officially expired.
Lennon was delighted to spread a bit of cheer in a week when staff were told they would not be paid on time and the club twice found itself in a court-room to safeguard its future.
“It has been a really tough time – worse than anything I’ve ever had in my career,” he told The Bolton News.
“It has been hard to keep morale up and not just on the football side of things, but on the admin and staff side too.
“The supporters were again fantastic. It felt like we were going for a play-off place let alone a relegation battle.”
Pratley was a driving force behind Saturday’s win, scoring his third goal in four games just before half time. Lennon feels he is now starting to play his best football again for the Whites but admits others in the division have caught on.
“There was interest in him and I think there is still interest in him this month as well,” he said. “He has been superb. He is starting to show the form he had last season before he got that really bad hamstring injury.
“He is pitching in, not only with all round good performances, but goals as well. That’s the reason we kept him on.
“He is captain material and he is starting to drive the team forward.”
Source