Plan delay but Ardley hopeful of more deals
NOTTS County boss Neal Ardley is still hopeful of landing a third signing after seeing a slight hold-up in his bid to bring in a left-back.
The Magpies were hoping to strengthen that position and had targeted a Premier League youngster to help bolster their defence.
While the paperwork has been signed by Notts, it has yet to be signed off by the player’s parent club, causing the delay.
But Ardley is confident he will still get the deal over the line and did not rule out making further signings.
“We’re still trying to get bits and bobs over the line with the other club,” he said. “We’ve hit a bit of a sticky patch but we’re still hopeful.
“It’s a little bit out of our hands but we’re trying to be patient to see if we can do it. If we can’t, then obviously we’ve got other players on the list and we’ll move on.
“We’ll definitely be making a third signing – of that I’m sure – and there may be further signings beyond that, although we’re not dead set at the moment.”
Notts have already strengthened their squad with the loan arrivals of Inih Effiong and Calvin Miller, who both signed deals until the end of the season from Stevenage and Harrogate Town, respectively. Miller is due to make his debut for Notts against Stockport County today, but striker Effiong is cup-tied, having played in the FA Trophy during his loan spell with Barnet.
The clash at Edgeley Park is undoubtedly the pick of the fourth round ties, pitting the promotion rivals against each other, only weeks after Notts secured a 1-0 win in the league.
But with both clubs facing long trips on Tuesday night when league duties resume, Stockport boss Jim Gannon feels that may affect the line-ups each manager selects.
And the Hatters boss, who saw his side perform magnificently against
West Ham United in the FA Cup on Monday, says his team have been much better since their defeat at Meadow Lane.
“If you look at the track record in the previous round, albeit against lower-placed opposition, changes were made,” he said.
“I think both clubs will look at the priority being having the strongest, fittest, freshest team available on Tuesday night, especially when you consider the travelling distances.
“They’ve (Notts) got to go to Yeovil and we’ve got to go to Dagenham.
“That will definitely have a bearing on it.
“I can’t second-guess their team. We are preparing as if we are playing their first team.
“But I was extremely disappointed and frustrated at what unfolded during that game (league), tactically and technically.
“We got knocked out of our stride and never really got back into it. It was a really disappointing performance.
“Since that game, we have played a lot better.”