John Askey’s bid to complete a six-month loan deal for Scunthorpe United striker Connor Jennings is on the way to being completed.
A deal for the former Stockport County striker has been agreed and manager Askey said the deal was simply a matter of sorting out the paperwork.
Askey had been hopeful that the 21-year-old could be completed in time for him to play in Tuesday night’s friendly with Rochdale.
Jennings, the younger brother of former Silkman James, has represented the England C team, scoring on his only appearance against Gibraltar in 2011. The youngster is known for a turn of pace and aggression and adaptability, meaning he could fit the bill for Askey, who knows Jennings from his academy days.
“We’re hoping to get Connor in, we’ve agreed the deal with Scunthorpe, it’s just a matter of trying to tie up the paperwork now,” Askey said after Macc’s friendly at Oldham?Athletic on Saturday.
“It’s a six-month deal and hopefully he'll be available for Rochdale on Tuesday.
“Connor is a player who can score goals and it gives us another option up front.
“He’s another lad that fits into what we want to do, he’s pretty local, he knows all about the club and he wants to play for us.
“He was offered deals elsewhere for more money but he chose to come to us. I know both Connor and JJ well, Connor’s been in with us before and I know their family, I know what they’re about, and I think that’s one of the reasons we’re hopefully getting him in.”
Although the deal hadn’t been completed as the Express went to press, Askey was preparing to give a run-out to another ex-County man, Paul Turnbull, and former Moss Rose favourite Danny?Whitaker against?Dale.
Wilmslow-raised Whitaker, who departed the club in 2006 after making nearly 200 appearances, left Chesterfield earlier this year and Askey is hopeful that a deal can be done to bring the attacking midfielder back to his hometown club.
“I think I’m close to finalising the squad but money will dictate just how close I am but we're not far away, it’s just a matter of filling a few positions now,” added Askey. “We need a couple of lads in midfield and possibly a centre-half, and obviously a left-back.
“If we can take on the majority of lads that we’ve got in we’d have a really good chance of doing something but whether we can bring them in or not I’m not sure.
“We’ve got some good players in so it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing now, I’m hoping there will be more news after the Rochdale game.”
