TOWN are under no pressure to sell Jonathan Stead as speculation about the striker has spread north of the border.
Reports suggesting the 20-year-old frontman has become a target for Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers have been vehemently denied at the McAlpine.
Town, of course, turned down an £800,000 bid from Sunderland for the 11-goal prospect a fortnight ago, since when he has failed to find the net and there has been no follow-up interest from the First Division club.
That may change on Saturday, when Sunderland have no fixture and manager Mick McCarthy may take the chance to be part of the biggest McAlpine crowd of the season for the Hull City visit.
With Town now out of all three knockout competitions following the FA Cup exit at Accrington, temptation might have been to cash in on Stead at this stage - but club owner Ken Davy insists financial strategy at the McAlpine has not changed a jot.
"Going out of the Cup was obviously a disappointment, but nothing has changed with regard to our plans, our objectives and how we achieve them.
"The future of the club doesn't depend on the result of an individual match, however pleased or disappointed we might be with it.
"Too many sporting clubs make decisions at the height of elation or disappointment regarding individual results and, in my opinion, that's not how to build a successful club."
Mr Davy refused to comment on the Stead situation directly, while manager Peter Jackson confirmed there had been no further contact from Sunderland since their initial bid and no word from Rangers at all.
I can confirm Rangers have watched Stead, but the connection at the moment seems to have stemmed from an injury crisis at Ibrox which may result in Scunthorpe loan man Steve MacLean eventually being recalled to Glasgow.
Stead's agent Jim Seasman says the striker is flattered by all the interest but that his only concern at the moment is in doing his best for Town. Should he move on, it would only be to a high-level club where he was immediately involved in the first-team squad, not a reserve.
"A number of clubs have monitored his progress, but he is a level headed lad who is focused on his career," said Seasman. "He has come through the youth structure and, if Huddersfield were in the Premier League, he would not go anywhere."
Midfielder Chris Holland (ankle) is a big doubt for Saturday's match, when Hull are expected to have a sell-out following of 4,038.
Striker Jon Newby has started light exercise after keyhole surgery on a slight cruciate knee ligament problem.
Town Juniors, who beat Leeds 2-1 on Saturday with goals from Joe Walsh (penalty) and Gavin Huxall, play West Ham in the FA Youth Cup at the McAlpine Stadium on Wednesday, December 3 (7pm). They take on Sunderland at Emley this Saturday (noon).
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