HUDDERSFIELD Town snapped up hot Scot Murray Wallace and Falkirk teammate Kallum Higginbotham ahead of last night’s transfer deadline.

And on a hectic final day of the January window, the Galpharm club made the surprise sale of Donal McDermott to their League I rivals Bournemouth.

While Salford-born former Rochdale striker Higginbotham, 22, is set to move immediately for an undisclosed fee, centre-back Wallace, 19, will join next season after being signed then loaned back to the Scottish First Division club, from whom Town signed midfielder Scott Arfield 18 months ago.

Town boss Lee Clark watched both players in action for Falkirk in Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final clash with Celtic, who won 3-1 at Hampden.

Higginbotham, who will take the Town No27 shirt, has hit form this season after signing in 2010, and has been tracked by Celtic and Rangers, where Wallace was a junior, as well as Ipswich and Crystal Palace.

Wallace has also earned rave reviews for his displays in the Scottish First Division.

Town beat off competition from Ipswich and Brighton to snare the highly-rated defender, who like Higginbotham, has signed a contract until 2014.

“Kallum’s natural position is as a second striker who links with the midfield,” said Clark, whose side remained second in League I after promotion rivals MK Dons and Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 last night.

“He has a great change of pace and an eye for a pass and he can make and score goals.

“He was the stand-out player against Celtic and I believe he can come in and make an immediate impact here.”

On Wallace, the manager explained: “We have done extensive homework on Murray and believe he has a massive future, both here and at international level.

“He is a left-sided centre-half, and in that position, good players are hard to come by.

“It’s a compliment that he has chosen to join us.

“We couldn’t compete financially with the other clubs who were interested, but he has bought into what we are trying to achieve.”

Reports North of the border suggest Wallace has cost an initial £300,000 rising to a possible £700,000.

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley said: “Murray has been fantastic for us.

“But it is not a parting of the ways as he will remain until the end of the season.

“It is an excellent bit of business by the club for, with add-ons, it could mount up to quite a substantial figure over time.

“Obviously we will miss him when he eventually goes as he is a terrific young player.

“However, this is part of our long-term strategy and we are comfortable with the move.”

Town signed Lee Novak from Gateshead in a similar deal three years ago, with the striker helping the North-East club win promotion to the Conference before linking up with Clark’s squad.

Wallace, who has made 24 Falkirk appearances and scored twice, will hope to help the Bairns reclaim a place in the Scottish Premier League.

Meanwhile McDermott joined Bournemouth, where he had a loan spell from Manchester City last season, just six months into a two-year Town contract.

And Clark admitted things just haven’t worked out for the Irishman, who departed for an undisclosed fee in a deal which includes add-ons.

The cash-rich Cherries, who signed Crawley striker Matt Tubbs on Monday, had originally targeted Swindon winger Matt Ritchie.

But they then turned their attention to 22-year-old