The players are in place for a promotion push

Posh chiefs are convinced they enjoyed one of the best transfer deadline days in the club’s recent history. It wasn’t just the quality of the signingsPoshmade- midfielderGeorgeMoncur, goalkeeper LukeMcGeeandwingerNathan Oduwa all completed loan moves to the ABAX Stadium - it was the fact they hung on to their star players despite persistent interest fromChampionship and Premier League clubs.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony revealed the club received 16 bids in total for their top players, but rejected them all.

Hewouldn’trevealwhothe subject of the bids were, but director of football Barry Fry was more forthcoming.

“There wereplenty of bids, for our players,” Fry said. “But we resisted any temptation to sell because we want to give ournewmanagerthebestpossible chanceto build a promotion-winning squad.

“We were determined not to sell the likes of Jack Baldwin, Chris Forrester or Marcus Maddison in this window.

“We’ve signed some good players, but keeping hold of our own was just as important. It wasanexcellent transfer window for us.”

Posh came under fire in January for selling top scorer Conor Washington to Championship side QPR for £2.5 million late in the transfer window. His move co-incided with a slump in Posh form.

ButMacAnthonyisdelighted to have avoided a similar scenario.

He said: “We had 16 bids in 72 hours for our players and we kept saying ‘no’.

“It’s time now for me, the fans old and new, and the city council in Peterboroughtoget behind the club and propel it back to the Championship.”

Posh boss Grant McCann was pleased with the transfer dealings completed by the club, but also relieved he can now concentrate on orchestrating a promotion push without the distraction of potential comings and goings.

In a new rule for this season, clubs can’t sign l oan players before January, unless they have a goalkeeping emergency.

McCann said: “I’m glad it’s all over. We have done some good work in the transfer windowandweknowwhatwe have to work with for the next few months which is a relief.

“I’m delighted with the players we signed. George Moncur was obviously a main target of mine in the summer and Luke McGee and Nathan Oduwa have great potential.

“Luke has been i n and around the Spurs first-team squad for two seasons, while I watchedNathanplayforRangers last season and was very impressed.

“Nathan is a crowd-pleaser. Someoftheskills hehasalready shown in training took the breath away.

“We also have Lee Angol and Brad Inman to come back from injury. Their return will be like signing two new players.”

Shaquile Coulthirst has fallen out of favour at Posh.

Chris Forrester.