The deal to bring Thierry Audel back to Macc Town may be resurrected.
The defender had been training with League Two strugglers Carlisle United but this morning (Wednesday) he was due to join John Askey’s squad with a view to once again becoming a Silkman.
Audel, who left Macc in 2013 for League One Crewe, has been on Askey’s radar for some time, and the Macc manager is delighted to have – almost – got his man at last.
“Thierry’s training with us now, and I’m hoping we can sign him up but as always it depends on the pennies,” said Askey. “He’s been training with Carlisle but I think they need to get people out before they can bring anyone in.
“He’s as well coming to us, a winning team, and hopefully helping us to get promoted. We sold him to Crewe for a fee a couple of years ago, back when we did these things, but they saw something in him.
“He’s big, strong and quick, he’s got all the attributes, we just need to get him playing regular football again.”
Signing Audel, particularly after a deal had looked out of the question earlier this month, would be a huge coup for Askey, above, as he’d been facing the prospect of trying to see out the season with just two centre-backs.
But Audel’s versatility means he’s not only more-than adequate competition for Alex Grant and George Pilkington, he could also fill in on the left, should left-back Scott Barrow suffer injury or suspension. And that’ll lead to some sweet dreams for Askey, who now says a play-off place is the minimum he expects from his men this term.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights worrying about whether we’ve got enough defenders,” he added. “So bringing in Thierry would be a big help in that respect. He'll provide cover and competition at the back. I could still do with one more, but not just for the sake of it.
"All the signings have contributed - when you look at what people like Luke Waterfall, Liam Hogan, Denny Johnstone and now Lee Bell have done I've been pleased with what they brought. I'm sure Thierry would have the same effect.
“Any new player would have to improve the squad, and that’s what Thierry would do. He'd be a really good addition.”
