Shez's Taylor delight

Billy Mckay - exit

THE RETURN of Chris Taylor on loan and the retention of captain Peter Clarke were the highlights of a busy deadline day for Athletic.

Taylor (30) is back at the club where he rose through the ranks to make his name, having signed on until the end of the season from Sky Bet League One rivals Bolton.

Also in for boss John Sheridan is teenage Burnley central midfielder Aiden O'Neill - he too is on loan until the end of 2016-17 - while left winger Tope Obadeyi, who played under Sheridan at Chesterfield and Plymouth, arrived on a free transfer for the rest of the campaign after leaving Dundee United.

On his way out of the club is striker Billy Mckay, whose season-long loan from Wigan was cut short in order to allow him to move north of the border to former club Inverness Caledonian Thistle on loan.

But despite a £30,000 bid from Scunthorpe, revealed in yesterday's Chronicle, Athletic have hung on to highly influential defender Clarke.

The League One leaders wanted the 35-year-old to boost their promotion chances and the player made it clear to Athletic officials that he wanted the chance to make the switch to Glanford Park.

Athletic were determined to keep hold of the skipper, though, and are understood to have no concerns over the experienced defender's mindset going forward now he is staying put.

Taylor, O'Neill and Obadeyi come straight into contention for Saturday's trip to Chesterfield in what represents another fixture of crucial importance near the bottom of the division.

Sheridan announced himself delighted to have brought back his former charge Taylor for a second spell, allowing the popular home-grown winger the chance to add to his 285 appearances and 35 goals for Athletic.

"I know him and he knows me and he knows the way I work so I'm chuffed to bits to get him," Sheridan told the club website.

"He will be a big player for us to try and stay in this league. It is good that Chris knows the place and hopefully he will come in and perform like I know he can."

As for O'Neill, the 18-year-old Australian represents the Matty Palmer-style figure Athletic had been seeking to add dynamism to the midfield.

Bradford and Bury were also interested in signing a talented player who has made three appearances as a substitute for the Clarets in the Premier League this season.

"Aiden is someone different to what we already have," Sheridan said. "Hopefully, he will get hold of the ball and keep possession of it and it's a good opportunity for him to come out and play regular first team football."

Striker Mckay leaves Athletic after a loan that ended without him hitting the net in the league. The Northern Ireland international did manage four goals in cup competitions in 33 appearances in total and now heads to Inverness looking to find his scoring form again.

"Didn't work out how I would of liked but that's football sometimes," McKay wrote on Twitter. "Great bunch of lads who can get them out of the situation there in."

FORMER Athletic midfielder Marc Klok has signed for Scottish Premiership side Dundee until the end of the season after a successful trial spell.