Thetownend.com

Deadline Day
           
           


  Join chief sports writer Sam Morshead and sports writer Andy Warren for what is shaping up to be a busy day of transfer activity at Swindon Town.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/10196990.Deadline_Day/?ref=rss
           
           
           

Whoopee fucking doo.

All out I expect. I dreamt last night we sold Foderingham, Ferry (for 112k) and Lewis Flitcroft who is a regen in one of my fm games...

1st deal of deadline day, 2 tickets for the yeah yeah yeahs at Manchester Appollo in May, cheered me up after the crap that was going on at STFC over the last couple of days!

Chris Samba on 100k a week at QPR. This throwing money around wildly in football in this country really has to stop.

and 12.5m transfer fee, Harry throwing money around again

Could not agree more, the current level of wages is unsustainable and utterly pathetic TBH.

QPR are going to be so fucked.

At which point this season will 'Arry stop blaming the players and take a look in the mirror?

According to Sam Morshead we are doing a swap deal L Rooney/M Pack

The Advertiser understands Marlon Pack is set for a move from Cheltenham to Swindon, with Luke Rooney heading in the opposite direction.

Isn't he a centre midfielder?

Just saw that on twatter that was out of the blue

Watched Cheltenham on the box recently and was thinking that I was glad we never went for Marlon Pack last season (as he was rumoured to be joining) as he wasn't very good at all.

Ah well. Another Centre Midfielder then.

11:05am

Danny Green of Charlton is also understood to be a transfer target for the Robins.

11:05am

The Advertiser also understands Town are looking at bringing Charlton's Danny Green to the County Ground on loan as a replacement for the departed Matt Ritchie.

11:05am

The Advertiser understands Chris Martin's loan spell will be extended today.


ITS ALL KICKING OFF!!!

SPORT: #Swindon manager Di Canio also remains keen on bringing in Gary Madine from #Sheffield #Wednesday. #stfc

How would danny green compare to Matt Ritchie?

So, if we look at the big picture - (although not confirmed yet of course).

OUT - Matt Ritchie
OUT - Luke Rooney (potential)

IN - Matt Green (potential)
IN - Gary Madine (potential)
IN - Marlon Pack (potential)
IN - Chris Martin (loan extension)

If this was to happen, would we be happy campers come 11pm tonight?

Definitely.

So long as we don't lose Willo and Wes out of the blue.

I would be ecstatic.

If nobody else goes (except Pack for Rooney) then I would be moving away from the panic button

If we're signing Madine it would be nice for Storey to go out on loan somewhere and get some experience (if the striking Rooney is staying of course)

From memory he is a bit more of a traditional winger who takes on the full back and gets to the byeline but that's only based on seeing him a few times.

Miles picked up a hammy injury at the weekend i think. Out for about 10 days.

Richie will be gutted if we sign Pack. They're bessie mates i think.

so different to Rooney and Roberts then who look to cut back and whip in crosses then. Could be interesting.

YOUR SAY
Seems like Paolo is onit today. Sense today is already gonna be a better day that yesterday! #STFC #stfcadver #Deadlineday

— @SuggWillSugg 31 January 2013

Gimp!!! :)

Maybe that's just the way he was told to play though. Our wingers would be doing the same if PDC didn't invert them.

I was thinking more in terms of overall quality.

Not sure but don't think it'd be fair to expect him to completely replace our best player. He was used quite a lot as a sub for Charlton last season in Lge 1 but hopefully he can be a bit more consistent that Luke Rooney.

Yes. I wouldn't expect us to find anyone that could bring 10-15 goals a season from midfield. Anyone who would would be playing in the championship or above. In fact, I'm still not quite sure how Bournemouth have done it.

After yesterday I feel pretty calm today...is it the calm before the storm though? I'd be more than happy to take a few in with none out!!!

In a perverse way I am really looking forward to seeing how we play on Saturday at Crawley without Ritchie.

http://www.charltonlife.com/discussion/51909/danny-green (http://www.charltonlife.com/discussion/51909/danny-green)

Mixed opinions.

Don't forget a big reason why Ritchie scores as many as he does is not just because he can shoot, but because Paolo plays him on the wrong side.

If Green knows where the net is, there's no reason why he can't play on the left and be the opposite of Ritchie and score just as many. (I don't recall Ritchie being anything special pre-Paolo.)

I'm with you on this - as good as Ritchie was/is he isn't without his faults/weak areas and opposing teams did focus on marking him out of games. It'll be interesting to see how we adapt and how it changes the dynamics of the team.

It's a valid point. De Vita on the other side has done the same - at a slightly better goals/games ratio than Ritchie this season even.

Well even the doubters on that forum say that he (Green) is a very good crosser.

Wouldnt be too disappointed if Martin's loan is not extended to be honest.

I think I'd be quietly pleased. Save the wages and get in someone else.

Would leave us with just Rooney as cover up front though until Miles is fit again.

Much rather send Rooney back but that doesnt seem possible.

Just had an email, 'The STFC PLAYER sale ends today!'

Hope this hasn't been sent to the whole of the football league again

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

He sounds remarkably similar to Luke Rooney to be honest: not loads of pace but tricky and can beat a man, excellent delivery, exciting on his day but goes missing for long stretches of a game, poor work rate, bad tackler, best used as a substitute for the last 20 mins.

Sounds like there's potential there though but not a ready made Di Canio players. Gonna be hard for anyone to improve on ritchie for delivery + goals + playmaking + workrate.

"Paolo Di Canio's pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Crawley this weekend has been put back to mid-afternoon."

Hopefully this means he's busy signing players and not that he's on his way out.

I like the fact it's being called "Paolo Di Canio's pre-match press conference"...I'd like to think he's busy doing deals, but after yesterday I won't count my chickens yet!

See Becchio has gone Leeds to Norwich for undisclosed fee plus Morison.  Good bit of business for Leeds. Closes off another possible destinations for sale of Charlie Austin though. Doesn't look like he's going anywhere this window.

"The local media have been invited to talk to Town chief executive Nick Watkins at 12.30pm. We hope to get clarity on the takeover sitaution and the sale of Matt Ritchie."

So we'll finally find out whats going on!

Rakish Bingham from Wigan. Heard it here first.

I think IF we make signings they'll be later on (a la Benyon 2 years ago). Looking forward to hearing from PdC in his press conference though!

PDC press conference live on BBC Wilts at 2:30.

Can someone post up a NMH-style summary please?

In short have we signed anyone yet?

Nope, more importantly no one else has left.

Amen to that.

Bit of T-Rex for the build up. Nice one Sue. Am I listening to the right station?

All the links I've seen during work are all rehashed rumours. Green and Madine.

No one in then.

Dont think anyone else on here has NMH's translation skills

SM believes PDC wasnt aware that Ritchie was being sold.

This press conference could be a bit tasty

How about I try ?

It is BBC Wiltshire, right?

Yep, they are treating us to some fantastic music first...

Going over to Chris Wise in next few minutes....Sue Davies taken ill and Maria SNU standing in !

Really? Bloody Freddie Mercury ?

You are but apparently its not Sue shes sick :)

PdC press conference in the next few mins.

it's true though, we are the champions

Fucking shoddy sound quality.

The PDC interview:
- He heard the news from Ritchie at the moment he was ready to sign
- Fucking microphone broke!

Now the line has gone. Paolo must be angry!

Technical problems. Typical.

Lost signal mmmm, Conspiracy theories anyone?   :hmmm:

Paolo has beaten someone to death with the mic.

He didnt sound too chuffed when saying that he only found out about the sale (from Ritchie) when Ritchie was about to sign.

BBC Swindon in poor quailty connection with the County Ground shock.....not.

Ohh!! Dont like Morsheads tweets from the PDC interview!!!!

Being recorded and will be on at 3pm

so this is what we pay our licence fee for tinpot radio station  :crash:

Fucking amateurs, how often do the BBC broadcast from the County Ground, you'd have thought they might have worked out how to do it by now....

Hes doing your job for you but not as well.  What does that last tweet mean 'only one thing is clear the environment ive worked in for 7 months' is that good or bad?

PDC: 'The results we've made proves how well we have done. From now with new owners I think I can work in a better way'.

Sounding positive....

Sounds more positive now but hearing of the transfer from Ritchie is a big worry.

Eh?

They are positive

PDC: 'The results we've made proves how well we have done. From now with new owners I think I can work in a better way'.

PDC: 'Now only one thing is clear. The environment in which I've worked for seven months.'

PDC: 'I don't want to talk about it because I still don't exactly understand.'

PDC: 'I thought it was a joke. Obviously it was clear straight away. He told me the deal was done.'

Not the first two!

Shocking to start with but improving.

ah yes that tinpot radio station that gives us commentary of every game for free which a lot clubs don't have.
,shit happens

Agree entirely, one of the more important PdC interviews and the BBC manage to foul it up - not a happy bunny!

 :doh:

For free, you don't pay a licence fee then??

No more Danny Hollands.  :(

You know what i mean, in terms of not having to use the website commentary option.

Great news that Paolo is being positive, let's focus on that.

As you were, I'll be catching up with Africa tonight on BBC iplayer

Maybe we can get him back before the loan window shuts in March when he's fit again?

No need for me anymore then - Adver site has it all. (sniff sniff)

No point keeping an injured player. 

I switch off paolo on a match day as i know i can read your summary. It's invaluable.

Now they're not going to play the interview until after 4.

 "There wasn't even an instant when I thought (of quitting) and I thought straightaway of my squad. I thought also how to tell me players we lost one of the best players.

"We have a very important game, and that was my first thought.

"It doesn't belong to me about the money."  

paolo's words and thats good enough for me for today

Butland to Stoke for £5m.

Will that mean they have money to buy Caddis?

Open Communication with fans as well as an open cheque book became a thing of the past after Jeremy Wray left. Now the board don't even tell the manager before flogging his best player for peanuts. Lets hope Jed McCrory's policy of communication with fans at Banbury continues at the County Ground

Nope Caddis on on loan till the end of the season so no rush to buy him.

Doubtful as they're skint, which is why they're cashing in. Plus they've got him till the summer anyway so doubt they'll be in a rush to buy him.

Only that someone else might get in there, and they may get a better deal if they buy while we are desperate. Unless they have a contracted option in the summer.

not certain there is anything stopping other teams making a bid for him now and negotiating a deal, they just won't have his registration until the summer.

the quotes from Paolo all seem very sensible, reasonable, balanced and comforting - the total opposite to normal...

maybe its a relief of from whats been going on

Open communication is a lot easier when it's good news

There is! We have to give permission as he's still under contract. Oh!

no shit, that's why i said "negotiating a deal".

I surtinly howp soe wood bee a grate impruuvmunt on wot it are now

Actually, is there any reason we couldn't sell him now to someone else? His registration is still with us and could be transfer, except he'd stay out on loan for the rest of the season.

that's what i meant - unless Birmingham have got a 'first dibs' clause in his loan deal, i don't know if anything could prevent another club approaching us, offering us a few buttons and some belly button fluff, us accepting the deal and Caddis agreeing terms on a contract.

might be wrong though, i am basing this on transfer rules in Football Manager  :hmmm:


on another note, SSN are reporting that Celtic have rejected a 4th bid for Hooper from Naarrch so can't see them signing Austin

Apparently 'Arry is interest in Austin....more spending.

surely this is a given :)

if the transfer window lasted long enough, he'd start going through the phone book

Chill your boots. That was a dig at our current predicament, not at you Sonic.

If Hooper does go to Naaarge, expect Kevin Doyle to join Celtic on loan rather than Charlie going.

Any possible deal for Charlie would rest massively on his fitness as he is currently still out injured and has been for a month.

SPORT: @BBCWiltshire understands #Swindon have completed deals to sign Danny Green and Marlon Pack from Charlton and Cheltenham. #stfc

london_red understands he is very happy with that.

Pffft. Matt who?

DV believes Twitter is mostly full of shit.

It is on the Adver site as well.

However you comment may also apply to what is on there ;)

I've missed crying DV.

That sounds like a Metal Gear Solid boss.

BBC states that Crawley have made 8 signings.

Yes -- Burnley fans relieved he's injured apparently.

Boremuff apparently leading the race for Port Vale leading scorer Tom Pope, will their signings ever cease? surely the FFP rules must be being breeched by now.

Cheats! ;)

I don't understand how in the furore over our disgusting excessive spending muffs buying of the league with a smaller incoming, excluding oligarch wedges of cash, has been ignored. Their wage bill must be double ours surely. Calamity james doesn't come cheap and that's just one if the all star squad.

Anyone know much about this Danny Green fella?

Only he can't spell for shit so he's going to be utter wank.

You know the shit's hit the fan when DV, pauld and RobT come crawling out of the woodwork.

It's more a co incidence as I'm on early shift this week...

Oddly, it has been the mood swings of the forum that made me become just an avid reader, rather than contributing.  Get involved in too many arguments, same as at games in recent years to be honest.  I;ve just got really fed up with moaning people, in all walks of life, which creates a strange annoyance because you end-up moaning about them.

Have Wiltshire radio played the interview yet? Had to turn it off it was so dire.

He help me get Swindon to the premiership on the 2012 game, so he's good.

I didn't know I'd been in the woodwork tbh. I have been posting a lot more than usual though today I'll grant you! That's partly because I'm off work with flu though.

In the last few hours I've been feeling the onset of flu (or more likely a cold). I hate getting ill. Especially when potentially fatal.

Yeah likewise. This is the first time I've had proper flu, been off work for over a week, most days I've ever had off sick consecutively before that was 3 days in my entire working life. Not nice.

You've probably caught it off reading my ranty posts on here today. I reckon you should sue me and the site's main admin :)

I died of man flu yesterday. I'm getting better now though, still a tad touch and go though.

If your temperature is over 38c it's flu. If it's just a sniffly nose and sore throat it's man flu.

In other transfer news, David Beckham has signed for PSG for 5 months. That didn't interest me, but what did was that his salary will go not to him, but to a children's charity in Paris.

Now clearly he doesn't need the money but its a bloody good gesture all the same.

I love David Beckham

Consortium should have asked him for a loan yesterday

Beckham is worthy of all the praise he gets and will be a sad loss to football when he finally retires. Hopefully we see him stick around in some capacity.

I hope never to see him or his miserable sour old faced bint again.

:nod:

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA
Three players are expected to sign on with the Robins before the end of the day, however. Watch this space.

Madine has fallen through. i presume these 3 are Green, Pack and Wright-Phillips

"The Advertiser understands Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Madine will not be joining Swindon on loan.

The proposed move has fallen through after the Owls failed to land a transfer target of their own.

The club are still expecting to complete three deals this evening, so stick with Deadline Day Live."

Marlon Pack, Danny Green and one other then? Possibly BW-P?

They'll be Green, Pack and Martin loan extended.

We're just reusing stories from last deadline day aren't we?

I expect fuck all

Expect a late move for James Constable to Swindon :D

Classic deflecting tactics....aren't you expecting us to sell anyone?  Would be a surprise if we don't.

And just a little disappointed eh Reg? :hmmm:

I'd be delighted with BWP. I'm also very happy with Green. Pack i'm unsure on but with Rooney going and Hollands also not coming back it's good that Paolo has acted fast to get cover in CM.

Would prefer Wright Phillips over Madine anyway

A Sheffield United fan has just tweeted that BWP has turned them down to sign for Swindon, it's like his world has just ended...

And then they go and sign Jonno Forte, poor them.

:nod:

Hope so. Decent player. Wilson is about as charismatic as a spoon so it could be true.

I can't see the BWP speculation coming to anything. Think people should lower their expectations and brace for it just being an extension to Martin's loan.

I'm with you. Great result if no one goes, wouldnt worry me too much if no one came in.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11718/8458574/Wilson-rules-out-move-for-trio

Wilson is a bit shit on deadline day

As an optimist I choose to believe the best. If it doesn't come to fruition I'm not bothered, which I think that's a far better outlook than feeling happy at predicting the worst and being proven correct.

They signed jonathan forte

Agent Darren stirring shit and suggesting Williams to Wolves.

As a realist I choose to believe what i think is most likely to happen.

Think he's just playing along with a game.

Wilson loves signing crap strikers in January doesn't he? Benyon in 2011, Pericard in 2010.

South London's version of Morshead is reporting Green deal is done and BWP likely to happen.

Nothing official yet though.

Agent darren is apparently banned from the club i hear....

A realist is just a pessimist who's convinced his negative opinions are some how more realistic. :D

For an optimist, that's a very pessimistic way of looking at a realist if you don't mind me saying.  ;)

PDC Interview part deux:
(Missed the first bit)
- Clear more than ever. Players have done well in the environment PDC has been working in in the last 6 months. Yesterday is proof of that environment (rug pulled from under his feet)
- People not pulling in the same direction
- New people looking forward positively. I think I can work in a better way and focus attention on the squad rather than on problems at the club
- Considered his position last year, but didnt think about it last night. First thought was about what he could do next with the team. PDC should have expected it in some way because he had known about the finances for 5 months.
- Its not up to PDC to say how much Ritchie was worth. (Someone in the background asked journalists to move on - Poss Phil Spencer) Time will tell whether it was a good or bad deal
- Hasn't met the new owners yet. But they've proved and shown the credentials to move the club forward (PDC was apparently smiling when he said he hadn't met them - Hmmmmm? Wray ? Fitton ?)
- We have moved away from the club being on the precipice
- PDC has support to get some players in the next few hours if everything goes well
- Wants to bring in 2 players. Joked about Pack and Green. Said definitely no to Madine.
- Chris Martin extension - We'll see. Norwich busy with buying players for themselves.
- Wouldn't say how many he wanted to bring in (Joked that he'd like 8).
- Hollands. Initially he was going to be out for 6 weeks. Charlton want him to have surgery that will take him out for 9 weeks. Therefore, can't afford to keep him. Wished him well and good luck. Then looking to get a midfield replacement for him.
- We like the number 3 against Crawley. We might have to be satisfied with 1 this time. Will be very hard but we are going to go for a win. Wants to get a reaction from the players out of adversity
- Hardest job this week has been to focus players on this weekend. There are a number of players that were worried due to contracts being up or speculation about them moving. But this is PDCs job. Players have proved in the last 2 months that they have become a better group and team of individuals.

  

Mucho Gracious.

On the West news Paolo was suprisingly upbeat....even when explaining that he was not aware of the Ritchie deal.

Thanks NMH. I tried listening the first time but just got Quo.

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA
Report in Cheltenham suggests Pack deal could be finalised when emergency loan window opens on Feb 7. Club tell me shouldn't be a hitch

https://twitter.com/SamMorshead_SA/status/297058459931795456

BWP is expected at the county ground at 8pm for discussions on loan move.

To be fair I used to say that too - BUT then I learnt (through very close contact of mine) that she does give a lot of money to charity herself, but it's not publicised as it might otherwise be construed as a publicity stunt.... after learning about that she went up in my estimation!

I didn't used to like Beckham - but really, there's not much to dislike about him!

Sutton just didn't get an invite to their party last week.

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA
@SWINDONPDC15 Pack deal agreed awaiting completion. Wright Phillips should be okay

Time to start feeling optimistic?  ;D

To be fair I wouldnt want to go to a party I'd been invited to.

Look who's being positive!! Not even a 'scarf over head' in sight!

Deal for Pack is complete, but no official confirmation yet.

Now hearing that Pack and Green may be complete. Going to leave this to @Official_STFC to confirm.

I assume, when BWP and Green join Pack, I assume you could call it a 'Pack-age Deal'.


I'll get my coat !!!

Peter Odemwingie making himself look like a right twat by tring to force a move to QPR by going for talks without permission.

 :D
Classic Marx.  Would you like to pretend to be the other side of a mirror? :)

I hope our scouting network is scouring the country to find a player called Bay to play in between them

Finding a player with the name Ers could be slightly more troublesome..

Well it looks like that could be scupperd Northampton confirm afinkenwa known as BAYO is not leaving tonight

The lad Everton nearly signed was called Fers... Silent f??

If you fancy a laugh:

@TCFC_Official: Chairman Peter Masters announces tonight that Luke McCormick is signing for OXFORD UNITED FC.
More on the website & City Alerts soon

Austin->QPR.....surely not...

£7.5 Million apparentley, would hopefully mean some decent money for us but not a great move for him.

Bet his bank balance says otherwise.

Oh well, its being squashed now

 Declan Taylor Declan Taylor ‏@DeclanTaylor87

Been told that Charlie Austin will definitely not be leaving Burnley today. #QPR apparently interested.

Bring back Ritchie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last hour still no confirmation...  I really hope we get a decent headline soon, like -'Town tie up Trio in T'nick of time'

Yes I'm bored.

This might be a stupid question but have we actually signed anyone yet?

Can someone update me on what that odemwingie blokes done?  Ive missed out on a portion of the day.  Is he being a twat?

Nope, rumour is we sold the fax machine to Bournemouth for 27p

he's been angling for a move away from WBA to QPR but nothing has happened...so he turned up at Loftus Road and got turned away.

i admire his style.

I think Pack and Green are probably signed, just waiting on BWP so they can all be announced together.

In a nutshell, he drove to QPR, did an interview for SSN saying QPR can beat the drop and then QPR denied him entry to Loftus Road...WBA furious apparently.

Drove to QPR ground but wasn't allowed in as WBA and QPR wage a war of the abbreviated cub names trying to agree a deal. Was originally reported he went in to QPR to try and force WBAs hand.

Odemwingie drove to London to speak to QPR, and then West Brom issued the following statement :

West Bromwich Albion statement: "Albion have moved to clarify developments regarding Peter Odemwingie after the striker was filmed a short while ago arriving at Loftus Road.

"The club can confirm they have held further discussions with QPR today but those talks have so far proven fruitless and no agreement has been reached.

"Albion would also like to make clear that Peter has not been given permission to speak to QPR about a potential move."

Odemwingie did put in a transfer request a few days ago, which was turned down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGT2l-1K9_g

Ah thankyou.  What a tool.  A text to my baggies supporting mate necessary I think.

i think Sam Morshead is a bit fed up, this just popped up on the live blog:

Any truth he bought a QPR shirt with his name on it?

we can only hope!

Anyone getting a bit anxious about these deals? Less than 45 minutes to go now.

Of course, its what footy fans do just before the window slams shut. I've gone to bed on deadline day at 11:10 with no signings made, woken up and we'd made 2 late ones!

i have a feeling they'll be announced in the morning

Maybe the FL are requesting more info due to our recent public troubles? As we were under umbongo maybe they look at our deals/finances more closely?

To be fair the fact that they still havent approved the takeover probably doesnt help.

BWP? Bopard William Patey?

I think you're right FWIW

We do seem to like announcing things in threes don't we? We did it a couple of times in the summer, can't remember exactly who it was now.

That's because "Three ... is the magic number"

Threesy does it.

It was something like Navarro, williams and miller together, then collins, troy and roberts together.  Those halcyon days of hope.

I have to say, if we sign Pack, Green and BWP, I'll be back to feeling quite hopeful again.

I will go as far as saying if/when we get these 3 we are in a stronger position than yesterday.

If they are loan deals then does it really matter if they are not done tonight or does the loan window only allow short term deals ?

100%

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA

Half an hour left and an eerie silence from #stfc. Cheltenham sources remain convinced Town's 'situation' (to do with sale of club) to blame

yup...

despite the loss of Ritchie, i'm cautiously optimistic about our fortunes on the pitch.

Roberts hasn't turned into a shit player over the summer, i'm certain of that, and an extended run in the team could give him a boost.

So what's the idea with Pack being a loan to perm signing? Why not just straight perm? Perhaps I'm being thick?

i've been wondering that and have asked Sam on twitter twice...

Probably because at the moment we don't have an owner (that's willing to cough up anyhow)

Given we just sold Ritchie on the cheap I doubt the money is there to buy right now, pre-takeover.

Despite what other teams fans seem to think, I really dont think we're a one man team.  I am still quite optimistic as I think we have enough to cause anyone trouble.  And if we do seal these deals then we are in an even better moment as our dear leader may say.

Cant see how they are going to do it like that as he is out of contract in the summer

Was that not the whole point of selling Matt Whatshisname??

Without wishing to piss on anyone's strawbs, if there are Venkys-style chickens to come home to roost from the past few days, they won't hit until the summer. Any business we may or may not do this transfer window won't really tell us much either way (unless we make a late bid to relieve Odemwingie of his misery or some such). And actually if we can keep things on an even keel on the pitch between now and then, then there may be enough momentum to get us over any bumps off the pitch too.... so oddly I'm cautiously seeing some reason for optimism too, but for different reasons

Isn't he under 24? Won't an agreed fee now save the tribunal?

Lack of money to spend I guess?

I did not specify how long I was going to feel hopeful for Paul. You have to take these things on a day by day basis with STFC. Last night I felt  :crash: maybe at 11.05 I'll feel the same again.

Let's hope STFC have a new fax machine (do they still register players that way?)

Ha ha fair dos. We should change our nickname from Moonrakers to Moodswingers. Not that it's actually our nickname, but it should be. Or something

12 forking minutes. This is like bidding on Ebay!

WE'RE SKINT and we know we are ...........................

As long as no one goes in the next 10 minutes, result.

As long as Bournemouth don't hammersnipe us.

Ha, not long to wait.

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA

Due a phone call in next couple of minutes. Not sure what it will tell me.

It will tell him he could be due up to £3000 compensation for mis-sold Payments Protection Insurance

Doesn't sound great... If players had signed club would just announce it not phone the adver to discuss....

So what deals have actually been completed? Have we signed anyone yet?

Officially - 0

Sounds like Pack is basically done barring a takeover collapse!

Other two still dubious.

Regardless of the outcome think this has been our most exciting January transfer window ever. What a roller-coaster it is supporting this club. Always seems like it's all or nothing.

don't you fucking break on me Twitter

No.  We're all waiting for Sam Morshead to receive a phone call, probably to say we've signed nobody  :)

The transfer window is now shut...

did you hear that sound? it was the window slamming shut!

SLAM

and we have signed/sold . . . . . .?

Who does he play for?

(while shady deals continue until midnight behind the curtains)

Think he's related to noone

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA
Had a not so good phone call. Trying to get official word before causing an unnecessary fuss.

Us now that we have signed him ;)

BREAKING NEWS.....Sam Morshead's phone has not yet rung.

More on this story later.

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA

Had a not so good phone call. Trying to get official word before causing an unnecessary fuss.

Not so good phone call. The rollercoaster continues.

Or it's ceased up

Ah well, 'emergency' loans it is....

Takeover de-railed?

[url width=500 height=288]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxviooxhue1qkwab0o1_500.jpg[/url]

The deals all fell through & Paolo has stormed out shouting Fuck this in Italian


Or

None of the deals have been completed yet, will have to wait until the loan window opens

Sheffield United think they may have signed Danny Green

SUFC Transfers
‏@SUFC_Facts
RUMOUR: Word's going round that Danny Green could be off to the Lane? #twitterblades #sufc

FFS what now?

If they are all loans they can be done in a week anyway, assuming they've not gone elsewhere. Green to Franchise maybe?

Leaves us light for Crawley though

Who is in charge round there?

Anyone think it strange there has been no comment from our new 'owners' yet?

Maybe Jedward is on the knocker tonight

Lets just hope the bad news is not another going out ...GULP

Missus dumped him?

The complete lack of communication altogether doesn't help peoples' nerves... imagine other stuff has taken priority

Fuck sake...

South London Press reported half an hour ago that Green was done and BWP was expected to be done. Obviously something isn't right...

FFS never easy is it

Fucking Football League is the problem not ratifying any deals to STFC at the moment cunts

FL won't ratify loan deals to us...

I'd imagine ownership issues have scuppered any deals tonight. We'll see who's left to sign when the emergency window opens next week.

That can't be right, surely he'd be off shit-stirring to sell papers for the sake of it?

FFS what a shambles.

Cuntflaps.

Total fooking shambles at the moment, back to normal.

Paperwork was in before deadline so may just get agreed in the morning (trying to be optimistic)

We're not under embargo so how can they not ratify them

So, we've been screwed by the Football League then.

Could it be possible it's because the paperwork from the new owners hasn't been finalised  by the FA yet

If the FA have refused to sanction any deals that is quite annoying, and not helpful in the slightest regarding the takeover

Please don't say that.  I now feel slightly sick.

Paolo totally lost the plot. Went round Blacks house and gunned him down. Massive manhunt in the South West...
They say its always the quiet ones !!!!!!!

Hopefully it is just that, and once the takeover is ratified the deals can all be confirmed.

I guess the worry is how long will it take

Never happened before has it?

FFS fucking FL bullshit fucking bollocks cunt

Honestly... You'd think that someone would check this stuff before expendig a load of effort on 3 non signings.... Maybe they knew this would happen but didn't want other clubs gazumping our signings today, in which case - good plan!

I'm frustrated about this if anything. Oh well, lets deal with Crawley on Saturday...good news (I think) is nobody else has gone, which after yesterday I'm very pleased with!

I'm, sure we will all remember

'The Day Nothing Happened'

We'll be telling the grandkids - we were there

Surely they have to have a good legal basis for not ratifying loans. They can't just do it on a whim?

It's clearly because the useless cunts still haven't approved the takeover.

Very true, it also wasn't a case of the new owners blocking any deals, which may have pushed PDC too far

So they won't ratify incoming players due to ownership issues but they will ratify outgoing players - bodes well for a club contemplating a fire sale (not that we are) - strange.

Actually best bit is probably that no one went.

We shouldn't really be surprised. It was all seat of the pants in the last 48 hours. You can see how they can't sanction transfers if they haven't approved the new owners yet.

Just another of the many reasons why the last two days of a transfer window is a spectacularly stupid time to sell a club.

Dear me what a shambles...

Ironically, they seem to be happy to let cuntchops Eddie Mitchell buy half the league.

To be fair, can the football league approve loan deals from a board they haven't even approved yet?
You'd hope that all the relevant paper work was sent in on time, and once the football league decide to approve the board, they can also approve the loan deals?

The football league
the football league
is full of shit
is full of shit
the football league is full of shit
its full of shit, shit and more shit
the football league is full of shit

Even the Pox made a signing . . . .ooooops!

They surely must have details of the takeover ready for their approval.  Why couldn't that suffice?

What a letdown after it all looked so promising earlier.  

Giggedy

Couldn't agree more. It's backfired on us massively this one.

Quite. If this is due to the League refusing to sanction deals, it's not the League screwing us so much as shooting ourselves in the foot. Again. But it shouldn't be disastrous, if all is well with the takeover, then we should just be able to get the same players in on loan in a week or so. If all is not well with the takeover, then failing to get 2-3 loans in will be the least of our worries

I may be being thick here, but if they haven't approved the takeover yet then surely that means Black & co are still the board? In which case why couldn't the loan deals be ratified with the outgoing board rather than the incoming one?

Police are now concentrating there manhunt efforts in the Preston Area of the North West of England ......

Because there is demonstrably "material uncertainty" surrounding the future of the club

I don't understand how the club didn't know this would be the case?

http://www.ctfc.com/news/article/byron-harrison-signs-631719.aspx

Cheltenham confirmed the Pack transfer at the bottom of this article? God I'm confused.

i don't really give a toss if we've signed players or not - i just want some clarification on things from the club.

Fair enough, thanks.

What a stupid fucking time to sell a football club.

Cos they are amateurs

Selling a club, the process of which has yet to be completed, at the end of the chaos of the transfer window doesn't make for a coherent situation.

Ummmm. Maybe no one at the club has been in this situation before. I know it's someone's job to make sure they know but there's been a few things go in the past few days.

All a bit of a shambles.  I wonder what statement we'll get tomorrow?

I blame Chris Wise.

 :bandwagon:

Left hand, meet the right hand.

Could be that they are protecting any potential players coming in, let's be honest it sounds like two days ago we couldn't afford to pay the players we've got let alone a few more.

In the grand scheme of things its no great shakes to wait a couple of days. We beat crawley 3-0 then move on with the new players joining.

But against a backdrop of a wall of silence, bodged finances, undervalued sale of a key player and anonymous consortium. Well its going to make you ask questions.

the bit on the Cheltenham site about Pack/Rooney has gone now

Yeah I think you're right. Somewhere out there, right now, Bob Holt is pissing himself laughing

Rory McCrory And His Merry Silent Band haven't had the best of starts have they? I don't think I've ever seen anyone blow a honeymoon period before it actually started.

That's old age for you.

:D Superb.

On the bright side, we've had a better deadline day than Odemwingie, he's a national laughing stock, we're only regional

It doesn't fill ne with any level of confidence to be honest.

Perhaps they're bound by some sort of confidentiality hence the deafening silence?

sadly, it's gone international. my wife has been taking the piss out of me/STFC most of the day

To quote Mr Kurt Cobain "I miss the comfort in being sad [Swindon being permanently financially fucked]"

And George Boyd who failed a vision test at Notts Forest so had to return to Peterborough.

What a shit way to prepare for our live game this weekend, there's no way players won't be affected at all by all this uncertainty.

I don't mean this to sound in any way demeaning of you/your missus but I think it usually takes a bit more of a roll than one ex-pat in Norway having the piss ripped by his missus to constitute "going international". Although if Flashheart weighs in with similar news, then we could indeed be on the way to full-on global meltdown

I dunno, we might revel in (relative) adversity?

We could have done with a home game really not 2 away on the trot.

i fear that recent news may have destroyed our reputation in Tonga

Pretty sure mex will have done that already, like a predatory sexual tsunami

He can always wear contact lenses. Stupid.

My Russian correspondent asked me what was going on at STFC today. I told her to shut up and finish the dishes.

It might work out for us this way - i imagine a home atmosphere might not be the greatest right now

where's Bartek when you need him?

Why on earth do people think the selling of the club in anyway whatsoever considered whether we'd think it was a good time or not?
Has anyone stopped to consider the fact that for Black it was in fact the perfect time to set the date for the sale of the club?  He gets a transfer window to sell some players if nobody comes forward to buy the club, thus meaning he'd not have to shell out anymore cash and give himself another few months to find a new owner.
There are far too many people thinking the owners of the club are fans I think.  Black backed his mates, he probably got interested in us for a bit, but for the past few months it sounds like we are a fucking gaping wound on his mind.  Looks like he wanted shot, and pronto, and you can't blame a guy when he has forked out so much, and will lose it mostly, on something he was never really that into.  Thank god he stuck around for 5 years and has agreed to put the balance sheet in good order.  The last lot had mortaged the fucking lawnmower by this stage of their tenure, and they were "allegedly" fans.

Very true and let's be honest, we're not reknowned for our great home atmosphere at the best of times!

I find it hard to comprehend how people are moaning about no signings after the chaos of yesterday, and the fact that no one else has gone is a big bonus 24 hrs later. Bit of patience it will all be sorted I would hope.

Are you Jed Mcrory?

You'd also hope that both wingers we use will realise they have an opportunity to nail down a starting spot while we await the cavalry of loan signings.
As much as I want to tell everyone to chill the fuck out, what are the stats for games played without Ritchie over the past couple of seasons?
Ah, doesn't matter, still reckon we'll beat Crawley.

And why do you assume that any of the criticism around the loan failings is aimed at Black? I'd say it would have been the new owners who should have mentioned to someone "By the way, chaps, if this goes to the wire, might be an idea to try getting pre-approval on any deadline day deals". Makes it look almost like they don't know what they're doing and have been caught on the hop

Wills stuck in a shit-load of money too, didn't exempt him from criticism. Black may well have got fed up, but it does him no favours whatever to exit so shoddily. Because it looks more and more like he's just dumped us on the first lot to come sniffing. And if he hasn't done his homework in favour of a quick sale, they could very quickly undo any good work he may have done.

Quite. The players in question haven't gone elsewhere so we'll get it sorted in the next few days, unless there's something more sinister going on in which case we're fucked anyway.

I love you Rob Tuck. Let's elope.

You continue to amaze me with your objective thinking for somebody who can put away endless bottles of beer (oh and chilled white wine) on minibus away days.

Are you on the wagon perchance? xxx

not that concerned about a potential lack of signings, am pleased we've not lost anyone else (except L Rooney possibly) but am mightily confused by the wall of silence from the club.

i'd just like to hear something concrete either way.

It's not the lack of signings, it's the ongoing air of omnishambles

You should begin to panic properly if I was - financially that is.

I just don't see why anyone thinks the fans were part of the decision making that Black has gone through.  The deal and timing are all about stopping the cash drain, and end of a transfer window is the best time for that.  Clearly not for fans wanting their club to sign lots of players (although everyone was maoning at PDC a few months ago for wanting to bring more in).

Says the man who has just blown £10 mill on a few mates' whim.

Oh...no, you haven't...

Don't seem to remember you giving SSW that much credit for the many millions he'd put in....

That last bit is my point Paul.  Do you honestly think Black is going to give a flying monkeys what you or I think?  He's probably looking long and hard at his cash flow while considering what horses he should back tomorrow.
I'm not really knocking him for that, he saved us.  Wills did as well, he just let a fucking loon run the place.
For us, this is all shit.  At least Black has never given any pretentions about loving the club etc.

Oh, and Al, still very much a borderline alcoholic.

No I'm not knocking him for not giving a shit what we think. But I find it odd that having done so much good (and at considerable expense to himself), he'd be prepared to risk it all going to shit. If the transition to the new owners ultimately proves to work out (and this could all just be minor hiccups), Black will be able to say to himself "Well, that didn't work out as well as I hoped but I did some good there". But it seems like he's been so keen to get shot in a hurry he's running the risk of all the good work being for naught. Seems a waste

His wife did ok for us and you could never fault his intentions.  Let the mad man loose though,and should have had the balls to stop him, especially when playing silly buggers towards the end.  Still, some people must respond to that Nigerian e-mail for it to cotinue being sent!

#STFC will not be adding to the squad despite agreeing terms, completing medicals and signing three players #STFC

The Football League have at this stage refused any new registrations and the deals cannot be completed #STFC

As we thought. So, can we sign these players as soon as they sanction the takeover? Or do we wait until the loan window opens again?

Marvellous. Just spiffing.

Lets hope "at this stage" can be cleared up quickly.

Hmmmmmm.

What i don't understand is why it's acceptable for Portsmouth to sign loads of players on loan for exorbitant wages without even having an owner.

But we're not allowed a few loans with an agreement for our new owners already in place.

Can someone explain this?

pretty much what we all expected but at least we got a statement

Football governance is a fucking joke.

Fucked over by the Football League again, let's hope this generates a siege mentality which transfers to the pitch. One of those against all odds promotion stories.

I don't think Portsmouth are paying much more than a packet of KP nuts each week are they? that's why we wouldn't let Benson go back because we made it very clear we expected half time pies instead, hence our own catering issues recently.

We're allowed to sell but not buy/loan. How is that fair?

No, I did not. But then it was completely different from Black. I give you Diamond Mike compared to Fitton and Wray. Dodgy vs astute. And all of the crap that went on at that time.

But saying that the parallels are quite ironic.

Nice guy (SSW and Black) spunking away millions because of their connections (MD/Fitton & Wray). Hmmm.

Credit is due then. Both benefactors have 'saved' the club.

However, here and now I completely understand Black's position. £250k a month out of my pocket is my house gone in 30 days. Scary. I don't blame him at all for getting shot of it, even to the cheapest bidder.

TEN FUCKING MILLION pounds down the tubes. That's perspective.

I did have an odd dream last night that the new consortium was made up of Glenn McCrory, a Chinese Mine owner who had a shocking human rights record and a Russian Oil Oligarch who was in bed with the mafia.  This might put the first ever real strain on the Fit and Proper Person Test.

Because one costs us money, one makes us money.

Are they rich undesirables?

it's essentially the same as being under a transfer embargo.

Unless we have somehow managed to reduce our predicted income to put us in another actual embargo. Who knows.

Didn't I watch that one on PornHub the other night?

What a fucking complete shambles. Signing 3 players without knowing if we're even allowed them...

Come on now.

Pretty amateur.

Not if it's stopped other clubs from getting them tonight.

    34s Sam Morshead Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA

    The Adver understands that, due to the status of the sale of the club, the FL were not willing to sanction the moves at this stage

    9s Sam Morshead Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA

    It is believed that the transfers of Green, Wright-Phillips and Pack could still go through in Feb emergency loan window.

Didn't someone suggest as much for the Pack deal earlier on today?  Maybewe did know, just tied them up and tried it anyway.

They did, from the Cheltenham side (paper, don't know source). Then it was back on again for today.

I seriously doubt we just put the fax in and got caught out. We must have been talking to the FL, surely.

FL refuse to ratify registrations for three new loan players because of the status of the sale which is currently awaiting FL approval.

The strange thing I see with this, and perhaps I'm wrong (highly likely bearing in mind the state of the transfers) is, if we're not yet owned by the new consortium, then we're still technically owned by the old one, no? Therefore no issues transfer wise. It's not like we're currently without owners...

This.

Well I expected to wake up and find we've signed no one and we have.

So, just what constitutes an 'Emergency' in the Emergency Loan Window?

If it means anyone can still move in/out on loan anywhere they like, what's the point?

And for those who breathed a huge sigh of relief when no other players left the club, I presume there is a possibility someone may still be on their toes during said 'Window'.

As for no players coming in, am I the only one who thinks it may be a good thing. Every other time we've brought a group of new players in it's messed the side up for some weeks.

Now the dust has settled (player wise anyway), we've lost one and that's the sum total.

As for the FL not ratifying the sale/owners, I would have thought that would have been a part of the actual sale process before any legal  transfer was rubber stamped.

Although I can see no reason why the FL would not sanction the deal, if by any chance they did, the new owners (and the club) would be fucked.

Mind you the FL would probably OK Jimmy Savile as a 'Fit and Proper Person'.

I wonder how bad someone would actually have to be to fail their test?

What the actual fuck.

Is this even a rule or have they just made it up? And why were Portsmouth allowed to sign players and we aren't, we're not even in administration.

If they've 'signed' for us. Does that mean we can at least have then training with us?

I think the point is that they haven't signed for us because the football league didn't ratify the transfer.  Whether this just means they cannot play in games though I don't know.

I think the mention of Administration in the press is probably why the FL have refused to let the transfers go through. 

The past few days have been extremely stressful due to all this crap at town.

Hurry the fuck up, sort it out and new board come out with statement of intent etc etc

Because we are Swindon, and they are Portsmouth.
 
For whatever reason (I blame Cecil Green) the FL have a real problem with us.

The FL refused their registrations so on that basis they haven't signed. I suppose their clubs may still let them train with us.

I hope they get scabies. A new untreatable strain of scabies so they spend the rest of their lives writhing in fucking torment.

That's a bit harsh - it's not the players' fault the League wouldn't sanction the move. And anyway, if they all got scabies, then they'd fail the medical when the emergency window opens :)

Pack not training with Cheltenhan today

Well he'll have rung in sick after Gypsy Rose Flashheart cursed him with scabies

Are Banbury town playing at home tomorrow - maybe a few people local to there could pop down and have a chat with him, and get the drink he gives fans

Depends. Registrations are to play for the club. If we're paying wages and whatnot then I don't see why they can't train with us.

Perhaps a week of getting familiar with the squad rather than being put straight into action might work to our benefit.

Just my thoughts, I don't actually know.

It's unlikely they would have played much part tomorrow anyway and even by Colchester they may not be completely ready. PDS does like to spend some time with them before playing. Probably not a big deal provided they can still train with us.

Still not the point though really. The Fl really are a bunch of cunt nuggets.

The single most annoying thing for me is the lack of communication, and what does come out lacking any clarity - the ambiguity of it all when it finally does emerge pisses me off.

The last 48 hours have been very bizzare.

So, if the takeover is completed, can we immediately register the players?

If we have to wait until the emergency loan window, then we won't have them for the rest of the season as you can only sign players for 3 months.

I am sure that in the next week or whenever the emergency loan window opens we will be allowed to sign them on 3 month deals, better than nothing I guess.

The players are signed though, just a matter of the FL approving it.

Surely there's no deals for this emergency loan palava. Just ratify the deals that have already been agreed to.

Thats what I took from the bbc Wilts tweet as well, but they are known to be wrong!

TBH I have no idea whast happening but hopefully it will be sorted out soon enough.

I was wondering this earlier. As everything was done before he window closed, once new owners are approved, can they not just allow the original deals?

The transfer window relates to the transfer of player registrations. The FL didn't approve our transfers and therefore Charlton & Cheltenham will still hold the registrations, even if they did all pass medicals and agree terms. I think we'll be stiffed by this and will be bound by the emergency loan rules.

On the Pompey comparison, I think - though no doubt someone will prove me wrong - that their loan signings have all been for one month.  Financially that is a very different risk from six months, and presumably the FL are watching them on a month by month basis.

On registration, I have no factual information, but instinct would say that if the players, the club and the clubs are content to accept that all was tied up last night then no-one can stop them being on our books; they simply cannot appear in any competitive game.  They could for instance play in friendlies or charity matches if that were relevant, which its not!

Its frustrating that we couldnt get those deals completed, but in general it has to be a good thing if the league are being more proactive in policing clubs finances than in the past.

Back in 2007 we actually signed players on the expectation that Best holdings were going to take over the club, only for that deal to fall through. If the FL had refused to ratify those deals until the takeover was completed it would have saved the club a lot of money!

I think the contracts the players have signed before the deadline are binding though.

You get situations all the time where players pass medicals, agree terms and sign contracts, it's then sent off to the FL or PL and it runs passed the deadline but it still goes through because the contracts were signed before the deadline.

I imagine the FL and PL have quite a few to get through after the deadline because of the amount of late deals that go through.

This situation would not have happened if an experienced person carrying out the traditional Club Secretary role was employed by the Club.
Bob Jeffries in the 60s/70s and Jon Pollard in the 90s would not have let this situation take place. Most of the problems that we have experienced over the past 40 years or so have happened when the Secretary's position has been weak.      

Ok so a club sends a fax (can't believe this still happens but it does apparently) through to the Football League at 10:59pm. This is before the deadline and the football league subsequently approve it in due course. Where's the difference - other than it being a few days instead of a few hours?

In regard to whether or not they can train with us...... surely that would be up to their parent club.

Whether there's a signed deal or not I imagine any club could have their players training with them, in the car park or at any other facility they like including those of other clubs.

That's how I thought it worked.

if I understand correctly, we're paying them a salary until such point the FL sanction the takeover and then ratify the loan deals so that we can register them?

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA
New signings won't be able to play until emergency loan window opens, if deals go ahead #stfc

I thought this was how it worked as well, maybe the differance here is the FL refusal to allow the deals. Maybe the refusal cancels out if you got the paperwork in on time or not?!

Are we paying them a salary?

just waiting for Brian Rix's trousers to fall down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1uvVa11cFE

if we've agreed loan deals, players have agreed terms and they've all passed medicals but the only stumbling block - as suggested by BBC Wilts and the Adver - is that we can't play them yet, i'd presume so?

especially if Pack isn't training with Cheltenham.

That would make sense but why do we have to wait until the emergency window opens to play them?

Surely the players should be able to play as soon as the FL sanction the takeover and approve the players?

I'm so confused right now.

Not what I was hoping to hear but thank you to the CHELTENHAM media anyway


http://www.ctfc.com/news/article/transfer-update-statement-632359.aspx

indeed, which suggests to me that the deals didn't go through before the window

i guess it's a bit like the whole Benson situation in 2011 when the FL said our fax machine was slow and crappy - we'd signed him but didn't get the same FL ratification

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9393427.Benson_move_off/

I read it that although agreement was reached between the clubs, the players wouldn't move (even unregistered to play) until the deal was confirmed by the FL, so we wouldn't be paying anyone's salary yet.

That would seem to be supported by that Cheltenham statement Flasheart has just quoted.

If I understand correctly the maximum an emergency loan can last is 93 days, so to cover ourselves for the possibility of the play offs we would need to wait till the 17th February to sign them?!

I miss the days when we were a well run club.

So the deals have fallen through and now the only way to sign them will be in the emergency loan window.

So basically yesterday never happened  :D

Looking back on them now, they were so fleeting.

Or at least we thought we were.

Been away but gather that FL refused to register three new signings!  If that twat Chris Wise hadn't mentioned administration the FL might just have looked on it differently, who do the new owners have to convince they are ok, the FL or the FA?

don't be absurd

Bloody frustrating yesterday, and I can't describe the day before...Turmoil this week off the pitch, let's hope tomorrow we get something on it!

Forgetting the signings for a second here, just why is it taking quite a while to get FL approval on the takeover? Is this something we should be slightly concerned about?

Funilly enough at this time or year, they probably got quite a full in tray.