No chance to say thanks to Barney?
Local paper reports have Southend accepting a £175,000 bid for 17 goal striker Lee Barnard, while accepting 20-year-old Saints academy product Matt Paterson.
It seems the centre forward was at the Shrimpers training ground Thursday to finalise his deal.
If Leeds, and possibily Millwall, who are being frustrated in their attempts to sign ex-Blue Theo Robinson from Huddersfield, decide to back down, the transfer could be signed and sealed before Saturday, which would mean no farewell game for the good Lord, which would be a disappointment to teh Roots Hall faithful.
With the new cash offer, along with a forward to help an already small squad, and as Barney seems intent on not signing a new contract as his present deal ends in the summer, this is about the best Uncle Ron and the club could get. 
According to www.oleole.com, (or should that be 'Allo 'Allo), this is Matt Paterson, possibily a mistake, but it would make it fun in the showers
The Paterson Files
The real Matt Paterson, maybe
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Paterson | ||
| Date of birth | 18 October 1989 (1989-10-18) | ||
| Place of birth | Dunfermline, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Southampton | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 200?-2007 | Bournemouth | ||
| 2007-2008 | Southampton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008- | Southampton | 18 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 2008- | Scotland U19 | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:44, 12 December 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Paterson)