Scunthorpe United have shown their relegation rivals they mean business in the fight to avoid the drop to League Two by moving early and decisively in the transfer window, signing five new players in a flurry of activity at Glanford Park.
Promising defender Harrison McGahey became the latest to sign in Stuart McCall’s attempt to strengthen the squad and steer the Iron out of trouble.
The 23-year-old joined for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year contract after making 127 appearances for Rochdale.
His signing came after Scunthorpe announced the capture of experienced defender Byron Webster on a free transfer from Millwall on a deal which runs until the end of the season.
McCall had already been busy this week recruiting forward Kevin Van Veen, defender Tony McMahon and Midfielder Adam Hammill in a defiant sign of intent for the rest of the season.
Speaking via the Club’s official website, McCall was full of praise for Chairman Peter Swann and Chief Executive Jim Rodwell for their backing but acknowledged the signings mean he now has no margin for error in his attempt to turn Scunthorpe’s fortunes around in the last twenty games of the season.
“I’m delighted with all the signings naturally. They’re different characters, and we’ve needed a little extra know-how, experience and leadership. We’ve been so unfortunate as you know with key injuries that we’ve had to deal with, but there are no excuses now.”
Scunthorpe United are currently twenty-first in League One on twenty-seven points and entertain Coventry City in their next fixture on Saturday.
Our View
Five signings in forty-eight hours is a fantastic effort by anyone’s standards but are they good enough to keep the Iron in League One? They certainly add experience and leadership but whether they have the quality only time will tell. Cover in defensive areas has indeed been added to the squad with McGahey and Webster seemingly the pick of the signings. However, we remain to be convinced Van Veen will get enough goals to keep them up, and by the sound of McCall’s comments, keep him in a job.
