Aldershot Town FC

Dean Holdsworth admits interest in defensive pair

By Jon Couch
May 10, 2012

DEAN HOLDSWORTH has admitted he is interested in signing centre back duo Sonny Bradley and Troy Brown on permanent deals for next season – but so far remains tight-lipped on his transfer business for the summer.

The popular defensive pair arrived at the club on short-term loans at the start of the year and proved to be big hits with the EBB faithful, both playing leading roles in the club’s record-breaking, six-match winning run.

Bradley returned to his parent club, Hull City, in March after making 14 appearances for the Shots and later forced his way into Nick Barmby’s Championship squad.

But the 21-year-old’s future was thrown up into the air this week after Holdsworth's good mate Barmby was sacked for comments made in the media over the club’s finances.

At the same time, ex-Ipswich youngster Brown returned to his club Rotherham United after Saturday's final game of the season at Crewe.

But with new Millers boss Steve Evans expected to spend big in search of a promotion push next season, he may be looking to make changes.

Holdsworth said: “Sonny and Troy were the ones that interested us, although both are still contracted to the clubs they are with.

“Hull do not have a manager at the moment so we’ll wait and see on that one, while Troy went back to Rotherham this week so we’ll monitor that too,” Holdsworth said.

As for the rest of his squad, the boss added: “I’ve spoken to all of the players about next year.

"There is work to do. I have got players who are out of contract here and we will be speaking to them but it is also important that we have targets to identify too.

"Two or three have been made offers and they’ve got a certain amount of time to make up their minds about what they want to do before I start collecting targets. I owe these players that time.”