LEE CLARK will do all he can to make the signing of Joe Garner permanent.
The 22-year-old striker has joined on a six-month loan from Nottingham Forest after weeks of negotiation. Clark believes he’ll play a major part in establishing Town as a League I force this season.
“I’ve been chasing Joe for a long, long time and he’s a magnificent signing for us,” explained Clark.
“I was trying to do every type of deal possible with Forest and I thought at one stage we had secured him permanently.
“Unfortunately, Forest changed their minds and I have to stress the only reason it’s not a permanent deal or a longer loan is because of Forest, not because of us.
“They realise they’ve got a very good player on their hands and don’t want to just give him away at this stage. We’ve had to be patient, but I’m delighted we’ve got him here because he will be a massive asset for us.”
So will the deal become permanent when his loan expires in January?
“Hopefully it will,” answered Clark.
“The big thing for me at this point was just to get him through the door at the Galpharm and we’ll worry about taking it further when the time comes.
“If we progress like I think we can and we keep playing like we are, then Joe will love it here and I would have thought he would want to stay. He has pushed the deal as well as me – the lad himself.
“He wanted to come here and I’m very happy with that bit of business to bring him here, because he’s so talented.”
Why we missed out on bringing Lee Carsley to the Galpharm – read Lee Clark’s comments on Page 36.
