SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens described Matt Palmer as a ‘signing that just didn’t work out’ ahead of the midfielder’s impending exit from the club.

Interest has been shown in the 25-year-old by Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic following the announcement by Town that the Derby-born player was surplus to requirements.

It is thought that Palmer would prefer a move to The Latics, though an agreement is yet to be reached due to Town preferring a permanent move involving Wigan paying the entirety of the midfielder’s wages.

Asked why Palmer’s time at the County Ground never materialised into anything meaningful, Wellens simply felt it was a case of being in the right place at the wrong time for the former Bradford City man.

Wellens said: “I think if you asked him, during some of the pre-season games, he’s been a little bit disappointing.

“But sometimes you make signings that just don’t work out. If a manager makes 10 signings and six or seven of them turn out well, then that’s good going.

“There is always going to be one or two that don’t work out, but I want Matty Palmer to be enjoying his football because I’ve never been one for hogging players for the sake of it.

“I want him to try and get a club that can kickstart his career because that’s what he deserves.”

Despite being signed just eight months ago and playing less than 90 minutes in a Town strip, Palmer is unlikely to feature for The Robins again.

Wellens expects any move for the 25-year-old to be completed in the coming days, with Oldham or Wigan the two most likely destinations.

And in spite of Palmer’s probable exit, Wellens admitted he would sign the midfielder all over again if offered the chance.

He said: “I have to say, if I was looking for a midfield player now and Matty Palmer wasn’t with us, I’d still take him.

“If you look at his C.V. he’s experienced, he’s played in the Championship, and he’s a very good footballer.

“If you look at the timing of when he came in last year, when you’re in the position that we were in last January, then you make signings to get you over the line.

“So if we had a problem in midfield with an injury to Grant, Doughty, Anderson or Rose, then Palmer would have gone straight in.

“We didn’t know the season was going to get stopped and then Matty Palmer wasn’t going to play for six months.”