7:42am Tuesday 8th July 2008
By Simon Parker
City pulled out of the race for Halifax hot-shot Jon Shaw because they refused to meet his £60,000 asking price.
The England non-league international, who hit 20 goals in 38 starts for the crisis-hit Shaymen last season, joined Rochdale over the weekend.
Stuart McCall is in the market to add another striker to his squad – but has no regrets that it won’t be Shaw.
The Bantams boss said: “We spoke to Jon six weeks ago about coming here but it was at a stage where everybody else thought Halifax were going to the wall and his contract would be terminated, allowing him to go for free.
“He seems very positive and ambitious and we got told if Halifax had to drop down a few divisions, then he would become a free agent. We would have taken him as one of four strikers at the club but we weren’t prepared to pay £60,000 for him.” Shaw, back in the league after being released by Sheffield Wednesday, was also linked with Stockport and Bury.
He said: “It is very unfortunate for the fans and the people that are running the club when you look at the situation that Halifax Town now find themselves in.
“Obviously it was no better for the players after we had fought and scrapped against relegation and with no disrespect, it is nice to be away from it.
“Rochdale didn’t have to do a hard sell on me after the performances last year and them nearly getting promoted. It’s a great boost.”
Although Halifax are poised to reform as a new club three levels down in the Unibond League North – they were included in the fixture list released yesterday – the administrators were within their rights to demand a transfer fee for the remaining prize asset.
But City were unwilling to beat the £35,000 they splashed out last season for Willy Topp, particularly with McCall considering other attacking options to bring in.
City, like several other clubs, are still waiting on Michael Boulding to make his own decision and McCall has also sounded out a couple of other targets.
He would have loved to bring in Watford youngster Theo Robinson, who fired 16 goals to steer Hereford to promotion while on loan.
McCall tried to snap him up last year but Edgar Street chief Graham Turner had already made his move.
The 19-year-old, though, is unlikely to be going anywhere this time. Watford are tightening their belts after an unsuccessful promotion push and the onus will be on Aidy Boothroyd to blood more of their youngsters.
Eight players are heading out in a cost-cutting measure as Boothroyd relies on the youngsters who gained experience elsewhere last season, like Robinson and Scott Loach, the keeper who impressed in a three-month spell at Valley Parade.
McCall said: “You can understand Watford wanting to keep Robinson because he did so well last season. There are good young kids like him about but it’s whether they are allowed out on loan by their clubs.
“Often they will want to have a look at them in pre-season training before making a decision later on. So if you’re looking to get someone in on loan like Robinson for example, it can take some time.
“It’s a juggling act weighing up whether you try to get someone in earlier or hang on hoping the striker will be available to take on loan.
“We are looking at different options but, as for Boulding, there’s no move on him whatsoever.”
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