Cheltenham Town manager Wade Elliott reflected on the Gloucestershire based team’s transfer business in January, believing that they had ‘a decent window’
He won’t be able to link up with his new side as of yet, as he completes his rehabilitation for a knee injury in the next few weeks with Elliott saying that ‘he’ll stay with Luton for the next 10 days to 2 weeks’
“He’s got a game pencilled in on Tuesday to get some minutes in, and we’re hoping he can get one more in before he comes to us.”
Elliott said that it was an opportunity that the League One team couldn’t turn down.
“We wouldn’t usually be able to get anywhere near the market of that level of a player. He’s 28, he’s played in the championship, he’s played a lot of games and I think the opportunity to bring in someone of that calibre is too good to turn down.
“He’ll add to us on the pitch, but just as importantly he’ll add to us off the pitch in terms of his habits, his mentality, the way he communicates to the rest of the squad. We’ve got a really talented crop of young midfield players, but there’s plenty they’ll be able to take from him.”
The manager said that getting an experienced midfielder is something they have discussed for a long time, going back to the summer however stated – ”its not that easy.
“If there’s somebody out there, within our budget, that’s got a lot of games at League One level or Championship level, generally there’s someone in this league that’s willing to outspend us.”
Cheltenham also picked up former Premier Division Centre-Forward Aiden Keena, for a club-record fee, who Elliott believes is ‘talented’ saying “he has got a good goal record and in fairness he’s come in and trained well in the time he has been in”
However, the boss stated that the new signing that ‘has been on the radar for a long time’ needs to be given time.
“We are going to have to be a little bit patient with him, he is in the middle of his pre-season in Ireland, so he has got a little bit of work to do”
The Robins will play Bolton Wanderers tomorrow at 3pm, with Cheltenham coming off the back of a goalless draw against Port Vale.
Elliott says that his side are ‘expecting a good game’ and that ‘over the past two or three seasons’ they’ve had good games against Bolton.
The two sides previously played one another earlier in the season, with the Robins sealing a 1-0 win against Bolton and will be looking for the same tomorrow, admitting, “I think we’ve shown that we’re capable of going toe to toe with anyone.”
