Malpas to make Mulgrew an offer he can't refuse? (From Swindon Advertiser)

Malpas to make Mulgrew an offer he can't refuse?

7:00am Saturday 5th July 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

MAURICE Malpas has vowed to help Charlie Mulgrew achieve his Championship dream as he finally closes in on landing his second summer signing.

Town and Wolves reached an agreement in principle over a price for the left-back yesterday, believed to be in the region of £150,000, and Malpas is confident the club's ambition will be enough to lure the 22-year-old to the County Ground.

The Robins boss will spend the next 48 hours in talks with Mulgrew and his agent to tie up personal terms and, with all parties confident of success, a medical is expected on Monday to unveil him officially in time for Wednesday's pre-season tour to Austria.

Sources told the Advertiser Peterborough winger Josh Low was in Swindon for talks yesterday afternoon but Malpas insists "minor miracles" would have to happen for their target to switch to Wiltshire.

Meanwhile all interest in Manchester United's Ritchie Jones is dead after the midfielder signed for Hartelpool yesterday, but Malpas did reveal he had some irons in the fire' with regards loan deals once the season starts.

League One rivals Southend were rumoured to be chasing Mulgrew as well but, after agreeing a price for the defender, Malpas claimed Swindon were not competing with anyone for his signature.

He said: "I have got to persuade him that Swindon Town is a place for him to come. He will get good coaching and will get good grounding. We have got excellent facilities and really good coaches.

"I have got to show him he is far better coming here, playing every week and progressing as a player so he can get back to the Championship - whether it be with Swindon or if he gets transferred."

While Malpas remains confident Mulgrew will be a Town player come early next week, he urged caution among fans - insisting nothing was sorted yet.

"I can speak to Charlie now and we will get things thrashed out quickly," he said.

"He is a good player. He will bring some height to the team and has good delivery at set pieces. He wants to be playing in the Championship and we want him to be playing in the Championship with Swindon. We have to persuade him that his pathway back to where he wants to be is best starting at Swindon.

"It is an opportunity to play at a settled club, where there is no debt, no turmoil. Everyone knows we are trying to get into the Championship and we hope to do that in the next couple of years."

Meanwhile their attempt to sign Low looks doomed to failure with Malpas admitting money is a stumbling block.

He said: "Josh Low is a complicated one. We have pitched in but the bottom line is he has to get things sorted at Peterborough.

"He has a contract there and there is a big gulf between the two. We can't bridge the gap between what he gets at Peterborough but if he sorts something out there maybe we could agree a deal.

"We think there are a lot of twists and turns at his end, possibly a few minor miracles before anything happens."

• Print
• Email
• Share