Scunthorpe Utd

Scunthorpe Utd
Iron boss hands deadline to Hayes Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws has given a deadline to striker Paul Hayes to sign a new contract. Hayes, 21, netted 18 times last season as Scunthorpe were promoted and has caught the eye of several managers, including Barnsley's Andy Ritchie. But Laws told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "I have given a deadline of the end of this week for him to tell us whether he wants to stay or go. "He understands that we need to know so we can look to bring in a replacement." Ritchie had earlier told his club's website: "Paul is a good player and one who we have been looking at throughout last season. "We have been monitoring him at Scunthorpe but there is nothing to add, other than he is one of the players we have been watching."

Striker agrees new Iron contract
Scunthorpe's Steve Torpey has signed a new contract. The deal keeps Torpey at Glanford Park for next season and includes an option for him to stay on for a further year after that. Veteran striker Torpey, 34, has made 199 league appearances since signing for Scunthorpe from Bristol City in February 2000. He has scored 73 goals in all competitions for the club and netted 13 of them last season.

Tykes add three players to squad
Barnsley have signed Scunthorpe's Paul Hayes and Richard Kell and Swindon winger Brian Howard. Striker Hayes, 21, joins having been linked with several other clubs. Midfielder Kell, 25, has been signed initially on a short-term contract. Howard, 22, has been captured after rejecting a new contract at Swindon. "We have had all three watched and have been impressed by all the reports back. That is why we made our moves," said Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie. Oakwell chairman Gordon Shepherd said: "Hopefully we will be able to add a couple more signings before the season starts."

Goodwin pleased with move to Iron
New Scunthorpe signing Jim Goodwin is convinced he has made the right move in joining the Iron. Former Stockport skipper Goodwin signed a two-year deal at Glanford Park. He told Scunthorpe's website: "I had other opportunities but after Stockport were relegated I wanted to stay in League One. "It wasn't a difficult decision because my heart was set on coming here. I've come to play in midfield, but the manager knows I will play anywhere."

Baraclough agrees new Iron deal
Veteran midfielder Ian Baraclough has agreed a new contract to stay with newly-promoted Scunthorpe United. The 34-year-old former QPR and Notts County player has signed up for a further 12-month at Glanford Park. He missed just one League game during the past campaign and played a big part in the Iron's promotion success. Baraclough follows veteran striker Steve Torpey in agreeing new terms and confirming their place in Brian Laws' plans for next season in League One.

Mariners sign midfielder Barwick
Grimsby manager Russell Slade has continued the restructuring of his squad with the signing of former Scunthorpe midfielder Terry Barwick. Barwick, 22, has agreed a two-year deal following his release from the Glanford Park club at the end of last season. He started almost 50 games for Iron but had no role in their promotion success. Meanwhile, Mariners defender Justin Whittle, 34, has agreed to extend his deal, while Iron striker Andy Parton, 21, has joined Stalybridge Celtic

Johnson seals Scunthorpe switch
Scunthorpe have signed much-travelled Sheffield United striker Tommy Johnson. The 34-year-old was told last month by Blades boss Neil Warnock that he could leave and has now joined the Iron on a free after signing a one-year contract. Johnson started out at Notts County, and went on to play for Derby, Aston Villa, Celtic, Everton, both Sheffield clubs, Kilmarnock and Gillingham. He joined the Blades in February but, after making only one start, Warnock decided not to offer him a new deal.

Rankine pens new Scunthorpe deal
Scunthorpe United striker Michael Rankine has signed a new six-month deal with the Iron. Rankine joined Scunthorpe from non-league side Barrow Town in September until the end of last season. Scunthorpe have a further six month option on the 19-year-old should they decide to extend the contract to the end of the season. Rankine started only one league game in the last campaign but came off the bench in 20 matches scoring one goal.

Stanton extends Scunthorpe stay
Scunthorpe defender Nathan Stanton has signed a new one-year contract - while the Iron also have a further one-year option on retaining his services. The 24-year-old missed the second half of last season after picking up a knee injury on New Year's Day, which required surgery. Born in Nottingham, he has made 215 league appearances since coming through the youth ranks at Glanford Park. He follows striker Michael Rankine, who penned a new deal earlier in the week.

Scunthorpe ready and raring to go
Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws has assembled a squad that he believes is capable of pushing for a play-off place in League One. The Iron won automatic promotion last season and Laws has since signed experienced players such as Jim Goodwin and Tommy Johnson. "We have a squad that is covered from every angle," Laws told BBC Sport. "We have looked at the squad we have got and feel it is more than capable of doing well in League One." In addition to Goodwin and Johnson, Laws has also brought in Richard Ryan and Richard Hinds - both of whom spent the latter part of last season on loan at the club - on permanent contracts. Laws also signed experienced midfielder Wayne Corden and Andy Keogh in the latter part of last season. "Bringing in new players is something that we have been working on for a long time - months and months in advance," added Laws. "Because we did well in the cup competitions last season we were able to bring in Andy and Wayne earlier than we thought we would. "We are not talking about just trying to survive. We will push as high as we can and I think we have genuine chances of getting towards the play-offs. "We feel confident, we have the players to perform in a higher league and ones that are used to winning. "League One is not as big a jump as people believe. I think there will be a fair majority of us on a level par." Laws was in charge of the Iron the last time they played in the third tier of English football in 1999-2000. Scunthorpe finished the season second from bottom - and Laws thinks his transfer policy over the summer shows that lessons have been learned. "I recall being in this division the last time we were here and we are far stronger and better equipped this time," he said. "Last time we lost two of our main strikers in the summer, when we thought they would both sign. "They said they would sign if we went up but left a month before the new season and as a result we got off to a slow start. "Now we are in better shape and hope to hit the ground running."

Ridley will miss start of season
Scunthorpe defender Lee Ridley will miss the start of the season after learning he will need hernia surgery. The left-back, 23, will be out for between four to six weeks following a visit to see a specialist on Monday. "We're disappointed because he'll miss the first two weeks of the season," Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws told BBC Radio Humberside. "But knowing Lee, he'll be fighting and raring to get back as soon as possible," he added. Marcus Williams is favourite to replace him in the starting line-up for the start of the new campaign.

Blades reject Sharp loan approach
Sheffield United have turned down an approach from League One side Scunthorpe to take Billy Sharp on loan. Boss Neil Warnock feels the 19-year-old striker will get more games under his belt playing for a League Two team. Meanwhile, the Blades manager does not expect to make any more signings before the start of the season. "I know the funds are in place, but it's very difficult to bring somebody in now who will get in the team," the Warnock told BBC Radio Sheffield. "That's how pleased I am with the team at the moment. "Agents are ringing me up and asking what I'm looking for, but I tell them 'not a lot, really' because I'm not." United's Yorkshire derby against Leeds at Elland Road has been brought forward a day to Friday, 21 October because of television coverage.

Injury blow for defender Goodwin
Scunthorpe's Jim Goodwin is facing a lengthy lay-off after being stretchered off in the Iron's pre-season friendly win over Winterton. The 23-year-old defender was injured in a full-blooded challenge in the first half of the Iron's 4-0 win. The Irishman is thought to have suffered ligament damage and is likely to be out for at least one month. Goodwin joined Scunthorpe from Stockport in June this year, after making 97 appearance for the Hatters.

Scunthorpe complete Sharp swoop
Scunthorpe have finally succeeded in signing striker Billy Sharp from Sheffield United. Initially the 19-year-old could not agree personal terms with the Iron but eventually put pen to paper. He has signed a three-year deal at Glanford Park and goes straight into the Scunthorpe squad to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The deal could see Scunthorpe pay up to £100,000 for the frontman depending on clauses inserted in the transfer. Sharp, who scored nine times in 16 games on loan at Rushden last season, had also been offered a new deal by the Blades.

Striker Torpey to see specialist
Scunthorpe United striker Steve Torpey will see a specialist to assess the extent of his hamstring injury. Torpey picked up the knock in Tuesday's Carling Cup win against Tranmere. Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws is hoping that Torpey has not torn his hamstring because that would leave the 34-year-old out for some months. Laws is likely to be without defender Andy Butler for several weeks after he left the field on a stretcher after twisting his ankle in the same match.

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