Dons on brink of signing Wright
Calderwood set to get his man
Published:
DONS boss Jimmy Calderwood is delighted he is on the brink of completing a £75,000 swoop for Darlington hitman Tommy Wright.
The Quakers were today expected to give the Dons the green light to push ahead with plans to make Wright their fifth new signing.
Calderwood is also working on making two other signings before they head off to Holland next week, with Liverpool’s young winger Adam Hammill and Coventry City full-back David McNamee understood to be in the frame.
Calderwood revealed he has been tracking 23-year-old Wright for some time and he is sure the striker will do well in the SPL. Calderwood said: “Wright will be a great addition to our squad.
“At 19, he was in the England youth side and was being talked about as if he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
“Wright lost his way a wee bit after that but you never lose the talent.
“I’m certain he will prove that with us.
“We’ve been tracking him for a while now.
“I went to see him a couple of times last season and we also sent Sandy Clark to watch him as well.
“Wright has always done well and we needed another strong target man, who won’t be afraid to mix it with defenders.”
Calderwood wouldn’t confirm the identities of any of his other targets at this stage.
But is understood the Dons have already expressed their interest in taking Hammill on loan. Liverpool will make a final decision on that this week.
Former Livingston player McNamee, who has been capped twice for Scotland, is one Calderwood has long admired.
The 27-year-old has returned to pre-season training with the Sky Blues but has yet to be offered a new contract.
Calderwood said: “I’m not going to confirm anything about anyone at this stage.
“But we are confident things will move very quickly over the next couple of weeks.”
Calderwood is also considering promoting teenage left-back Stuart Smith into his first team squad.
Smith, who spent last season on loan to Peterhead, impressed when he came on as a substitute against Manchester United.
Calderwood said: “Stuart did well and we now have to consider if it’s time to keep him involved with the first team squad.
“It will all depend on who we get in but left back is a problem position and we will need as much cover as possible.
“We appreciate Peterhead giving him a chance and I know they would be happy to take him back.
“But if we decide it’s now time for Stuart to step things up a bit more that won’t happen.”
The Dons have no fresh injury problems ahead of tomorrow’s friendly clash with Dundee at Dens Park.
Calderwood said: “Gary McDonald got a knock on an elbow but will be fine.
“I will shuffle things about a bit tomorrow but I’m happy with the level of fitness shown by the players so far.”
Readers' Comments
No offence intended to Tommy Wright. I'm sure a very nice guy and a good footballer. But are Aberdeen FC really reduced to taking players from the lowest division in the English Football League? Interesting to see players mentioned from Liverpool and Coventry City....surely these are only loan players. If Aberdeen FC want to mount a serious challenge for anything, other than a top six finish....the club needs to spend money.
Ian Stewart
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Ian I think McNammee from Coventry would be a permanent move, Hamill from Liverpool would be a loan signing. Agree about Tommy Wright, no offence to the boy but we should be setting our sights a bit higher than that, look at that lad Dundee Utd have just signed, 23 from Valencia who scored 25 goals for there B team last season, granted its only the B team but I bet you they are a hell of a lot better that Darlington, and they got him for nowt. Calderwood needs to get a new scouting team if we are to aspire more than the bottom english division.
Steve Brockie
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I agree also but even strikers with extremely limited track records go for stupid money and demand equally outrageous wages. I can see the method in JC's madness. By giving someone a chance who has more than most to prove you often get as good a player and sometimes better than the more expensive alternatives. The problem is this doesnt sell season tickets and doesnt inspire but unless we can attract Donald Trump or a local mystery oil tycoon to fritter money down a bottomless pit do we really have an alternative when we are in so much debt? We could all do well to remember why we are in so much debt... Milne used to listen to the fans and used to splash the cash. It led to year after year of failure and unfulfilled potential. At least now we have a firm grounding and a successful team because we have players who want to play for us and have a lot to prove. . If they use us a spring board to England then so be it but as long as the youth team start to produce then I can honestly say I would rather have Tommy Wright in the team than some of the money grabbing pre madonas that have preceded him. Stand free. Good luck to you Tam. PC
Paul Crichton
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Well said Paul, very good sentiments there. In fairness to Tommy Wright though, I think he'd be a very good signing. He's young, had a very promising start to his career, but has struggled for form recently. I think a move to Aberdeen will suit him well, and will help bring his career back on track. I honestly believe him to be a better signing than the guy Dundee Utd have brought in.
Michael Nisbet
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Lets get right behind the team and maybe this guy will turn out to be Mr Wright for Aberdeen. I'm feeling pretty positive about next season - although we need another 3 players minimum. None of the other SPL teams signings have made me panic.
Davy Brown
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worthy sentiments indeed from everybody who commented. However, seeing Sir Alex return to the city, made me remember some things. when Sir Alex originally took over as manager, Aberdeen had a few years of success, under Billy McNeill and Ally McLeod, but, were still constrained by the purse strings of the owners (the Donalds). Yet, Sir Alex made astute signings and developed from within...something he has continued at Man Utd. It's not that we cannot attract the big players, but we are targetting the wrong signings...it's quanity we need, and not somebody who is going to shoot off to lower league English teams at the first hint of a decent wage packet.
Ian Stewart
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I have to say that it's not uncommon for AFC supporters to want more than we are being offered. The simple truth is that we are operating at the lower end of the wage/transfer budget so we cannot expect JC to pull the rabit out of the hat. He's doing a great job with a limited amount of money and I for one hope that the 2 Jimmys can motivate and nurture this talent so that at last we have a 20 goals a season striker - although I think it may take a couple of years.
Derek Bain
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