Dunfermline Press | Sport | Athletic boss waits on transfer targets

Wednesday, 9th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 12:40

Athletic boss waits on transfer targets

By Sports editor Simon Harris

Comments (0)

Print Article

Image related to story, see caption or article text

Sean Murdoch.

THE Pars are waiting to hear back from one of a number of transfer targets sounded out by boss Jim McIntyre, Press Sport understands.

Pars chairman John Yorkston confirmed this week that offers were on the table and that the first of McIntyre’s summer signings could sign shortly.

Yorkston revealed, “We’re talking to people, we have made offers to people and all we need is a phone call saying yes we will take the offer.

“Whether that’s this week or next week I couldn’t say but what I would say is that we’re not giving them indefinitely.

“We’ve given them a time limit to get back to us and if they don’t we will move on.”

However, Yorkston said the Pars would not rush in and make all their signings at once.

“I think we will be signing one or two shortly and one or two in August,” he said.

“We would be kicking ourselves if, for argument’s sake, someone like Jim O’Brien became available and we didn’t have space for them.”

The Pars could be looking to sign a new goalkeeper after No.2 Sean Murdoch joined Hamilton on a two-year deal this week for a nominal fee.

The 21-year-old, who made six appearances for the Pars, rejoins a club he played for on loan in the first division in 2006-07 but now finds himself back in the SPL.

Murdoch’s departure leaves just Scotland under-17 internationalist Greg Paterson to challenge Paul Gallacher in goals and Yorkston said, “We wish Sean well as he’s a nice boy.

“We will probably go for another goalkeeper but that’s a decision for the manager.”

Yorkston said that with McIntyre being away on holiday, he’d yet to hear whether Darren Young would be taking up the club’s offer to remain at the Pars.

Some fans renewing season tickets have expressed concern that a possible deal with BBC television’s Gaelic unit to screen first division matches could see some Pars matches next season being switched to Friday nights.

But that remains a remote possibility at this stage according to Yorkston.

He explained, “As far as I’m aware, they’re nowhere near doing a deal.

“Something has been mentioned and it’s been put to the police but they’re not keen on policing games on Friday nights and that’s probably the end of it.”

Comments