Late Transfer Business?

To be or not to be in the transfer market for Mark McGhee?

With the transfer window set to slam shut at 11pm on Friday night until the new year, will Rovers partake in any further business this week?

For the majority of this summer Mark McGhee has been chasing another striker and has had 3 bids rejected for James Constable. However, since the final bid was turned down he has made a u-turn and explained that it is not a necessity to bring in a forward to compliment David Clarkson, Matt Harrold and Eliot Richards.

It may all have been a bit of reverse psychology to inspire the likes of Richards to work even harder and prove there are enough goals already within the squad. I don't think anybody doubts that our strikers can and will score plenty this season but what happens if one of them picks up an injury? Do we have sufficient quality to compete with them for a starting spot? I'd suggest probably not so far.

That's what makes it somewhat baffling that McGhee is suggesting we no longer need to strengthen up top when it appears clear that we do. Perhaps we're underestimating him though - he's an experienced manager and may just be downplaying our transfer situation whilst quietly working on a number of deals. This would not surprise me in the slightest. If we could sign another forward I think we'd have one of, if not, the best strikeforces in this division.

Worst case scenario is that McGhee's hands may be tied. We may already be dangerously close to the 55% turnover cap that restricts how much money can be assigned to the wage budget. The recent signing of Tom Parkes will not only have cost us a transfer fee but a considerable weekly wage too. That's not a complaint though, it was a stunning piece of business to sign him permanently and I'm delighted that we did. Whilst we have to respect the new financial rules, hopefully there is still scope for us to sign another player or two because that could be the difference for us as we get further in to the season.