The south Wales club, who move into the brand new White Rock Stadium in Morpha ready for the start of the 2005/6, believe that ‘Dale will relinquish their hold over the striker if a bid is high enough, but as yet the right offer has not arrived. Yeovil Town have already dropped out of the race after having a fee, believed to be in the region of £75,000, laughed away.
Speaking to BBC Wales, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins claimed, “All I will say is that we have kept up our interest in Grant Holt and made it clear to Rochdale that we would like to sign him. Our offer still stands and we are waiting to see if there are further developments.”
The 24-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of next season, is still mulling over an improved deal at Spotland, and his indecision has alerted a series of League One sides, with Southend United thought to be waiting in the wings. The Shrimpers, who today announced an £84,000 profit for the 2003/4 season in their annual accounts, have yet to publicise an offer, although this continues Steve Tilson’s policy of not entering into media bidding wars.
Head coach Paul Brush insinuated that Blues may be in the market for the 24-goal former Sheffield Wednesday front man when he told the official website, www.southendunited.co.uk, yesterday in reaction to news that City striker Lee Trundle may be sold to Leicester City or Hull City, “Swansea would have a lot more money than we would have to offer a striker so in some ways I hope he stays there because then they might not be in the same market for a forward as we are.”
‘Dale are reputed to want at least £300,000 for the forward, with director Jim Fagin telling the Rochdale Observer at the weekend, “We are looking to build a side capable of pushing for promotion next season and we aren’t going to do that by selling one of our key players. Unless someone comes in with an offer we can’t refuse, then he’ll be playing for Rochdale next season and hopefully beyond.”
Despite that third-of-a-million tag, Holt could be allowed to leave the northwest for a sum between £150,000 and £200,000, a total that may just fall within United’s price range if Tilson and Brush can bring in the other three players required for next season on a strict budget.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com