Hands off Lloyd call by Hatters
COUNTY have remained defiant in the face of transfer talk swirling around top goalscorer Danny Lloyd by reassuring supporters the club is “determined to keep our great group of staff and players together”.
Lloyd – who scored a brace at Boston on Saturday to earn The Hatters an impressive 2-0 win in the National League North – was heavily linked with a move away from Edgeley Park over the weekend, with National League side Tranmere Rovers reported to have an interest in the left winger.
The 25-year-old was noncommittal following his man-of-the-match performance at the Jakemans Stadium, commenting only that while he is “aware of interest”, he remains a Hatters player “at this moment in time”.
Lloyd has quickly become the’ marquee signing of Jim Gannon’s play-off chasing side, instantly proving to be a hit with supporters as his remarkable goals and assist record has fired County into the promotion mix.
A tally of 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions have come in just 29 appearances in a County shirt for the Liverpudlian, and the former Fylde man’s scintillating form has not gone unnoticed from the division above.
But Lloyd was named in the starting line-up at the Jakemans Stadium as County earned yet another win, and The Hatters remained unmoved by the “premature and unhelpful” speculation after the three points in Lincolnshire.
“Whilst speculation is inevitable during such a strong run of results, we would like to reassure fans that the club has received no offers or any formal enquiries for any of our
‘The club is determined to keep this great group of staff and players together’
players, therefore we see the current speculation as both premature and unhelpful at what is a very positive and exciting time in our season,” read a club statement. “The club is determined to keep this great group of staff and players together to ensure they have every chance of success this season and beyond. We recently secured our manager on a long-term contract with a view of moving the club forward over the coming years.
“Jim has already started the process of maintaining and strengthening the squad over the current season and into next season. As part of that process offers have already been made to several first team players to extend their contracts into next season.”
Two other key men within the Hatters ranks – goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe and midfielder Lewis Montrose – have also been linked with departures from the club and are believed to be in line for offers of new contracts along with Lloyd, as Gannon and company seek to “protect and build upon the first-team squad.”
Hinchliffe became The Hatters’ statistically best goalkeeper over the last twenty years with a twelfth clean sheet of the season on Saturday, equalling Paul Jones’ record between the goalposts in the 1996/97 season.
Classy midfield man Montrose picked up an assist with a raking through ball for Lloyd’s first in the 2-0 win, and has put in a number of outstanding showings at Edgeley Park this campaign, and Gannon stated his belief that his players will be keen to remain on “a great journey with great people” at County.
“We have great people at our club and it’s clear that there is a great team and club spirit at the moment. Those feelings of progress and enjoyment in our work are priceless,” said Gannon.
“It’s understandable that people have professional ambitions, but I know from experience that there is nothing greater than being involved in a great journey with great people, and I feel we have that here at our club.”