JORDAN RHODES is not for sale.

Town’s leading goalscorer has been the subject of Championship transfer speculation – the latest from Crystal Palace – since being in and out of Lee Clark’s starting line-up during the closing two months of last season.

Clark, however, has stressed the 21-year-old is very much part of his planning for another shot at promotion and those views were echoed today by chief executive Nigel Clibbens.

“Jordan’s situation is like that of all good players,” explained Clibbens, who sorts all the club’s transfer dealings.

“From time to time you will get general inquiries about your good players, asking what the position is, and that’s just normal – indeed we ask other clubs the same question.

“As you would expect, we have had one or two about Jordan but, in each instance, they have got a firm but polite reply that he is very much not for sale.

“Speculation about turning down bids and offers being presented is total nonsense.”

Having sold Lee Peltier to Leicester in a £1m-plus deal, Town are under no pressure to part with any of their top prospects – manager Clark revealing suitors would have to be talking extraordinary money – “well north of seven figures” – to even think about securing the likes of Rhodes or goalkeeper Alex Smithies.

Most Championship clubs would not be able to afford them.

On potential incoming players, Clibbens added: “There are plenty being suggested and plenty out there, but we are using our own scouting networks – the ones set up by Lee over the last couple of years – to make sure we get the right people in.

“It’s easy to make signings but not so easy to make the right ones, so we are using our own network.”

Town’s home game against Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Saturday, April 7, will kick off at 12.30.

The club had hoped to bring forward the New Year’s Eve kick-off against Carlisle to help fans with transport and a prompt departure for celebrations, but Carlisle refused the offer.

As expected, goalkeeper Nick Colgan has now signed his new one-year contract.