Darragh MacAnthony has revealed that Peterborough United had four big 'six-figure bids' for strikers turned down on transfer deadline day this week.
The Posh chairman spent a frustrating eight hours alongside manager Mark Cooper and Director of Football Barry Fry in trying to buy support for star strikers Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean.
MacAnthony also revealed that an attempt to sign Arsenal right-back Kerrea Gilbert failed because of the player's personal demands and that he expects Posh centre-back Craig Morgan's proposed move to Notts County to be resurrected during the January transfer window.
MacAnthony said: "Transfer deadline day was very frustrating for all of us. Barry Fry agreed terms with Sven Goran Eriksson for Morgan, but Sven couldn't get final authority from his owners in time so it didn't happen. It could be resolved in a week or so though.
"We offered the right back more money than he was on at Arsenal, but he wanted double and it became clear that playing first-team football wasn't a priority for him hence why we didn't complete the deal
"We put in high six-figure bids for four different strikers, but their clubs did not want to even talk money or entertain letting them go until January or the end of the season.
"Everybody in and around the club knows we need a right back and of course another striker to share the work load up front.
"The one thing 'The Mac Attack' has never had over the last two years has been a goal-scoring striker breathing down their neck from the bench.
"That makes the fact that we had deals in place for players like Jamie Ward, Reuben Reid, Jordan Rhodes and Theo Robinson in the last 16 months even more irritating, but our manager didn't rate them or want to bring them in at the time.
"The one thing the new gaffer is very clear about is that he doesn't want a squad of 39 players and has told Barry to trim it down to 24 by the end of the season.
"On any given day our first XI is good enough to get results, but areas like the ones above obviously need to be stregthened and this will no doubt happen in January by hook or by crook."
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MACANTHONY has praised Posh fans for their support of a team rock-bottom of The Championship.
More than 1,600 travelled to Sheffield United for the first match under the management of Mark Cooper last Saturday and
over 12,000 are expected at the home match with Middlesbrough today.
MacAnthony said: "I would like to place on record my appreciation to the fans at the moment who have been first class in their away support and also in their response to the gaffer's first home game today when the gate looks like it will be well over 12,000."
TOO MANY PLAYERS(Mark Cooper wants this squad trimmed down to 24)
GoalkeepersJoe Lewis
James McKeown.
Ben Amos (on loan from Manchester United)
DefendersCharlie Lee
*Exodus Geohaghon
Gaby Zakuani
*Ryan Bennett
*Scott Griffiths
Craig Morgan
Sam Gaughran
Danny Andrew (on loan at Kidderminster)
Jamie Day (on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge)
Danny Blanchett (on loan at Hereford).
Russell Martin (on loan at Norwich)
Tom Williams (on loan at QPR)
Krystian Pearce (on loan from Birmingham)
MidfieldersPaul Coutts
Dean Keates
Toumani Diagouraga
Chris Whelpdale
George Boyd
Lee Frecklington
Ramone McCrae.
Tommy Rowe
Sergio Torres
Dominic Green
*Josh Simpson
Alfie Potter (on loan at Oxford)
Billy Crook (on loan at Histon)
Strikers
Craig Mackail-Smith
Aaron Mclean
Shaun Batt
Danny Mills
Ben Wright (on loan at Grimsby)
Rene Howe (on loan at Lincoln)
Scott Rendell (on loan at Torquay)
Liam Hatch (on loan at Luton)
Kwesi Appiah (on loan at King's Lynn)
* indicates on loan to Posh, but permanent deals in place for January transfer window.
