Taylor staying put

Chris Taylor: staying

ATHLETIC rejected a transfer deadline-day bid for winger Chris Taylor.

The Boundary Park outfit confirmed they received an offer for the tricky forward which did not meet their valuation.

Championship strugglers Scunthorpe United had a £250,000 bid turned down last week and were expected to renew their interest, although club officials refused to name Taylor’s latest suitors.

He is now set to take his place in the squad for tonight’s home npower League One clash with Hartlepool (7.45pm kick-off).

Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “There has been interest in Chris, but we have turned down all bids.

“There was another offer yesterday which was rejected, and we have managed to hold on to him.”

Manager Paul Dickov (pictured) made it clear he did not want anyone to leave, especially after overseeing Athletic’s rise to fifth place in the table.

He believes Oldham lad Taylor is capable of playing at a higher level, but insists he can realise that dream with his current club.

Athletic did not receive offers for any other players, despite scouts flocking to the club this season to watch Dickov’s young promotion hopefuls in action.

Since filling the managerial hotseat last summer, Dickov has brought in a number of new faces and created the kind of never-say-die attitude which epitomises his own approach to the game.

The Scot has paid tribute to chairman Simon Corney for allowing him to freshen up the squad throughout the campaign.

On-loan Ben Amos, Aidan White, Neal Trotman and Oumare Tounkara are all first- team regulars, while permanent signings Cedric Evina, Reuben Reid, Andy Todd and Warren Feeney also have a part to play between now and May.

Dickov said: “The chairman has been brilliant ever since I came to the club.

“He has worked ever so hard to get players in and also get them out.

“I have to say, he has backed me all the way which is fantastic.”