Cheltenham Town are set to start the winter transfer window off with a bang as they are set to make two imminent moves.
The Robins have kept themselves in a solid midtable place since their relegation from League One last season and despite some discontent off the pitch have held firm.
Two Set To Arrive As One Departs
According to two separate reports from GloucestershireLive, Brentford’s Ashley Hay and Waterford right-back Darragh Power will both join the club when the window opens, but will be ineligible for their New Year’s Day clash against Port Vale.
Hay has been a regular feature of the Brentford B team, with the London club not having an academy. The 21-year-old forward is set to stay for the rest of the season on loan and it will be his first experience of EFL football, with previous loans to non-league sides Hitchin Town and Biggleswade Town.
Power was a regular presence in the Waterford side, playing all but one of their League Of Ireland Premier Division matches as they finished seventh of ten teams. It has been the only club he has played at the senior level, featuring in a total of 138 games.
The move for Hay comes as Cheltenham looks to strengthen in forward positions after Nottingham Forest loanee Manni Norkett was taken out with an injury at the start of December, with his deal expiring in the new year and is ‘unlikely’ to play again for the club.
Writer’s View
These are two interesting moves for Cheltenham Town to make, with Ashley Hay an unproven, young quantity in EFL football. He will likely play a similar role as to what Manni Norkett played prior to his injury, filling in when required and being a good squad choice. The move for Darragh Power is a very good one and will be great competition for Arkell Jude-Boyd at right-back. With international matches scheduled in March, Michael Flynn will want a great cover choice whilst Jude-Boyd is away with Saint Lucia and Power can be that and more.
Football journalist with The Real EFL since 2023. A 2024 Multimedia Journalism graduate from the University of Salford, Lewis specialises in Salford City FC and EFL coverage.
