Oxford United considering new Bristol Rovers bid for striker James Constable
BRISTOL Rovers are set to find out in the next few days whether a revised bid for striker James Constable will be accepted by Oxford United.
Oxford chairman Kelvin Thomas confirmed over the weekend that Rovers had returned with a second offer for the frontman after an initial bid, believed to be in the region of £120,000, was knocked back last Wednesday.
"We have received a second bid from Bristol Rovers, which will be considered over the weekend," said Thomas.
Oxford's policy of making Rovers' offer public suggests they are open to the idea of offloading a player who was their leading scorer last season with 11 goals – but are keen to achieve maximum return on the striker, who was the subject of a £225,000 offer from Swindon Town during the January transfer window.
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That deal failed to go through after Constable rejected the opportunity to discuss the possibility of a move to the County Ground and pledged his loyalties to Oxford.
The speculation, however, was believed to be one of the reasons for which Constable was deemed to have had a less than inspiring second half of the season, in which he scored just two goals.
Oxford now look keen to offload the striker in an attempt to use any cash on new signings to improve their squad after narrowly missing out on a play-off spot.
Ideally, Oxford would be keen to spark an auction for a player, who has two years remaining on his deal at the Kassam Stadium, and reports suggest free-spending Northampton and Blue Square Premier side Luton Town, managed by former Rovers manager Paul Buckle, are monitoring the situation.
Rovers, however, remain favourites to claim the signature of Constable ahead of Northampton due to geographical reasons – the player lives near Swindon – while Luton are disadvantaged by their status in a lower division.
Mark McGhee will be hopeful of getting his man after it became clear Rovers have edged closer to Oxford's valuation of the striker.
And they will be encouraged by Thomas' decision to "consider" the latest bid, as opposed to the way he immediately dismissed the first offer last week.
Should the offer be accepted, it is understood talks between Rovers and Constable could be delayed until the player returns from holiday next week.
Comments
by GasDownUnder
Friday, June 08 2012, 10:03AM
“Who or what is a Michael Rooney? No relation I assume with the other one”
by bluecamel
Friday, June 08 2012, 8:05AM
“Great shame regarding JC - i was told last week that it was a done deal, but yesterday morning other news filtered through regarding Constable rejecting £2k per week wages and other issues.
Seems to me that the Gas are better off without and look elsewhere - over to Frank and Fullers via Chiswick and not the BEP ;0)”
by MichaelRooney
Thursday, June 07 2012, 11:18PM
“This wonderful club
Was Dame Higgs's delight,
It could win, it could draw,
But it lost and things were tight
So she sold out to Sainsbury's
To keep it well fed,
And built a new stadium
When it was dead.”
by RedNemesis1
Thursday, June 07 2012, 10:47PM
“Blimey, Frank- has Nick won the Euromillions? because unless he has its a case of old mother Hubbordorvitch........and I can't paint a more realistic picture!!”
by Fullofgas
Thursday, June 07 2012, 8:33PM
“cheque book waved but not used.
wheres the camel ? seems the hotline had a bid of static on the line !”
by Oldfrank
Thursday, June 07 2012, 8:19PM
“RedNemesis1 don't you think it's surreal that the Oxford board discussed Rovers latest bid over the weekend and announced they were rejecting it on ............Thursday afternoon ?
From my perspective it's perfectly clear they wanted to sell Constable but he preferred to go somewhere better and by saying they've turned down the bid it makes everything at the Oxford end hunky dory for both the player and club.
Here at the Rovers end I'm hearing the cheque book is being waved about with alacrity and the agents of every waster and ne'er-do-well on the PFA roster are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of receiving a phone call from Roman Abramohiggs.”
by Fullofgas
Thursday, June 07 2012, 7:42PM
“Hopefully its not dead in the water. I guess he was interested himself otherwise why all the messing about.
We actually have a very good record developing and furthering the careers of strikers from the lower leagues, so unless he was destined to go much higher now, we are a good bet.
Anyway if he doesn't come now, well he was only a route one player anyway”
by THEIRONS
Thursday, June 07 2012, 6:54PM
“M.G. Sucking on lemons are we,silly me ,you are never critical of the team , you have no interest in.”
by RedNemesis1
Thursday, June 07 2012, 5:52PM
“Actually Frank- it's the Oxford Chairman that has turned down the second offer and not Mr Constable stating that Rovers was not to his palette - so you're clearly brushing over the facts but I guess that's the art of storytelling. MM will have to sketch out a plan B.
MancGas- We did not play route 1 football for most of last season. It was purely a matter of David James hoofing the ball as far away from his hapless goal mouth as possible to no one in particular.Anyway, we stayed in the exciting Championship and you stayed where you are. I'm comfortable with this.”
by Oldfrank
Thursday, June 07 2012, 5:22PM
“Oh dear Oh dear. James Constable has turned Rovers down, not because of wages or signing on fee but because he doesn't rate us as a club which will help him further his career. In other words he has taken the hint from people in the game who know Rovers and the way they operate and decided to steer clear.
Then we hear Mr Higgs say he is looking for 4 - 6 new players ? What happened to the bit of tinkering we were told the squad needed ? He hasn't been reading my comments on here has he ?
In all seriousness, I usually don't have much sympathy for little chaps who swagger around thinking they know it all and tread on people when it suits them. But you have to feel for a bloke being held up against a wall by his lapels and told "gimme yon cash or ay'll be a gonna"
Championship here we come.”