Yates misses out on number one target Akinde
CHELTENHAM Town boss Mark Yates has missed out on his primary loan target, Bristol City striker John Akinde.
City boss Gary Johnson has said that striker Akinde is unavailable anytime soon as he will be needed as forward cover at Ashton Gate.
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target: John Akinde challenges Robins' goalkeeper Scott Brown when Cheltenham played Bristol City last July
The 20-year-old had been earmarked by Yates’ as a primary loan target to strengthen his forward line before Saturday’s trip to Burton Albion.
But with City still negotiating with Premier League club Wolves to extend the loan deal for Cheltenham Town loanee Chris Iwelumo and Patrick Agyemang currently injured, Akinde will remain at Ashton Gate.
Akinde has already spent time on loan at Wycombe Wanderers and Brentford this season, but Johnson said: "Mark Yates had been in touch asking about a couple of players.
"Cheltenham are one of several clubs who have expressed an interest in John but he will be staying at Bristol City for the foreseeable future."
Akinde made his name at Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United after progressing though the Kent club’s youth ranks.
The 20-year-old then became the first footballer to be sold after a fans poll in 2008 due to Ebbsfleet’s unique online community ownership.
Akinde, who is 6ft 2ins tall and powerfully built, cost Bristol City £140,000 and he scored on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Plymouth Argyle after going on as a half-time substitute.
City lent Cheltenham Steve Brooker along with Alex Russell and Richard Keogh during the second half of the 2007-08 campaign and they all played a major part in the club’s successful battle against the drop from Coca-Cola League One.
Yates will now turn his attentions to his next target, but he ruled out a move for Colchester United‘s former Robins striker Steven Gillespie.
“Gary Johnson is a manager I have spoken to regarding strikers along with many others,” Yates said.
“I am still waiting on answers and we are quite a way down the food chain. I could get someone in, but I want to get the right player in because we need to someone to come in and make a real impact.”
Yates has been looking at West Bromwich Albion youngster Dwayne Samuels.
The 19-year-old right-back trained with the Robins on the Whaddon Road pitch yesterday.
He signed his first professional contract last summer after progressing through the youth ranks at The Hawthorns.
“Dwayne is a young boy who plays at right-back and he is not for now, but we are having a look for next season,” Yates said.
Meanwhile, four second year scholarships players have been offered professional deals.
Full-back Kyle Haynes, midfielder Josh Emery and forwards Theo Lewis and Jake Lee will all graduate to the first team next season.
Yates was watching Port Vale play Bradford City at Vale Park last night. Cheltenham take on Vale a week on Saturday.
22 Comments
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by Richard lll, Cheltenham
Friday, March 12 2010, 7:28PM
“In this situation, it wasn't a case of the player not wanting to come to Chelt. but his manager not wanting to release him - nothing anyone can do about that.
Just another point - saw Colchester v Brighton game, and it was like an Chelt renunion match! Messers Gillespie, Odejayi, Vincent + Ward were all there. Kay and Ashley were fairly annonymous,thou Kay has scored 10 goals on loan, but Gilly's speed and tricks were clear to see when he came on as 2nd half sub. How we've missed them!”
by more reasoning, still confused
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:55PM
“and my point is dear MN is that perhaps players like Stuart Fleetwood, Gary Bradshaw or Justin Richards will ONLY ever be non-league players, because that is there level. I think you will find Charlton Athletic play a bit more football than we would, so would suit SF's style? so if he cant get on there, then maybe players like him are just incapable of stepping up, dont forget that he went to Brighton on loan and they binned him off after a month!!!”
by monkey nuts, chelt
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 5:28PM
“I was not making the point as a case for re-signing Fleetwood or saying he is a great striker.It was that it is how you use a striker. What you have done is confirmed the point I was making. Jim Harvey could get goals out of the lad presumably by playing him in a certain formation which we. nor subsequent clubs have managed to do . Thank you for agreeing with me.”
by not to sure about your reason, confused
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 5:06PM
“So then Nuts, why is Fleetwood still out on loan and never even started? Bet Charlton are well happy they signed him.
I remember the one and only goal he scored and your right it was straight down the middle, but countless other chances he had in similar situations, he got simply brushed aside, so little Monkey your argument doesnt have much weight, nor does Fleetwood.”
by alf hart, windsor
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 4:25PM
“Have Chester not got anyone useful? Their players must be gagging for a game and a wage packet.”
by charlie, cleeve better than grime-sby
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 4:13PM
“gillespie any day over any teenage wannabe but it said yates ruled that out would gillespie have come back anyway? never in a million years the truth is we need a hayles/alsop experienced character but 10 years younger and available but they just dont exist.”
by monkey nuts, chelt
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:37PM
“It is not just a case of buying a forward, picking him to play up front and expecting a shed load of goals as in Fleetwood and earlier, Bob Taylor. You have to supply them with the sort of service from which they can score goals. Fleetwood thrived on a quick through ball between the back four when at Forest Green but when with us, more often than not, he was expected to play as a target man with his back to goal which he found difficult to do. Bob Taylor was given 50 yard passes over the top of defences and expected to chase them, when he scored most of his goals for the Baggies in and around the six-yard box. What I am saying is that a striker has to be 'used' in the right way . Even those of us old enough to remember Andy Gray playing for us, a prolific goalscorer wherever he went but he could not score for us because he did not get the right service.”
by Edwards45, here, there, EFW
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:14PM
“Thing is, Justin Richards was meant to be that players from the Conference to catch on fire, unfortunately he cant catch a cold. Others have tried it too, remember Gary Bradshaw? Banging them in for fun at North Fereby....was it?. useless, Stuart Fleetwood, got signed for Charlton, never played, came to us, couldnt even make it at this level, useless.
You have got to get extremely lucky and only few come through to make a big impact, only Charlie Austin I can think of recently(I'm sure I'm going to get corrected). It might come down to the size of the manager, but it also might be the size of the club as well or the position we are in ATM.”
by Dan, Cheltenham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:10PM
“Matt, what are you talking about?!
Akinde came on loan to Wycombe last year and scored 7 goals in 11 games - that's a hell of a lot better than any of our current trio upfront have managed!
He's quick, physical and knows where the goal is - that's exactly the type of player Yates should be looking for.”
by Matt, chelt
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 1:31PM
“If he was number one target i'd hate to see number two. I'll be interested to see if people start getting on Yates' back soon as apart from Lescott who's looked good in one game, no one he's signed looks any good either. Bring back mad dog”