JIMMY McGILL limped out of his final game for Town as Ian Greaves' side were outfoxed at Filbert Street.

The tough-tackling Scotsman had been a fixture in the midfield since signing from Arsenal for £10,000 in September 1967.

An ever-present in the 1969-70 Division II title-winning team, he had impressed against the leading top-flight teams (he is pictured tussling with Manchester United's Paddy Crerand while George Best looks on), but by the start of the 71-72 campaign, had fallen into dispute.

Hull City had been showing an interest, and the fact that McGill was forced off by a heel injury at Leicester, his 184th appearance for Town, didn't put them off paying £53,000.

Town fans worried about the club's First Division security were clearly hoping the cash would go towards a new signing.

And Greaves, whose side were eight places off the bottom after their 2-0 loss in front of 22,412 in the East Midlands, pledged: "The money will be directed towards building for the future.

"It won't burn a hole in my pocket, but I won't rush out to spend it overnight."

In the meantime, Terry Dolan, a £1,000 purchase from Bradford Park Avenue a year earlier, was earmarked to take McGill's place.

He had made his first league appearance for Town as a 62nd-minute replacement for McGill at Leicester, who had gone ahead through Jon Sammels four minutes beforehand.

The former Arsenal player, a £100,000 summer signing in the wake of Leicester's promotion, was left unmarked to head home from Keith Weller's corner.

Architect turned scorer nine minutes from time when, as Town pushed for an equaliser, Rodney Fern broke out of defence and fed the former Chelsea player.

With only left-back Geoff Hutt standing guard, Weller pushed the ball past him and sprinted through, drawing keeper David Lawson before slotting the ball home.

"It was very disappointing," reflected Greaves, whose side had won four of the previous six games to spark some optimism.

"They were strong at the back - we just couldn't get past (John) Sjoberg and (Graham) Cross - and they made the most of their chances."