Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson remains confident his squad has enough quality to avoid relegation, despite no first-team signings on transfer deadline day.
Posh Hold Firm in Transfer Window
Peterborough, currently 19th in League One and five points clear of the drop zone, had been active earlier in January, signing three defenders. However, the only arrival on deadline day was non-league midfielder Joe Andrews, who was immediately loaned back to Chippenham.
Defender Romoney Crichlow departed for Bradford City, while Emmanuel Fernandez remained at the club after failing to agree personal terms with another side, despite a bid being accepted. Midfielder Hector Kyprianou also stayed put after Peterborough rejected an offer for him.
Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that the club had explored potential additions but did not feel the right deals were available.
“If I’d wanted one or two extra players, I am sure I could have got them, but for me, you’ve got to find players that are better than what we’ve got at the moment. People could argue that’s an easy thing to do, but it’s not.”
Challenges in the Market
Ferguson admitted that attracting players was difficult due to Peterborough’s league position, with some targets opting for Championship moves instead.
“There were one or two things we looked at which didn’t quite come off, a couple went to Championship clubs. The difficulty I’ve got is persuading ones to come because of the position we are in in the league, and that’s nobody’s fault but ourselves.”
Despite the lack of additions, Ferguson is confident in his squad.
“I’m happy to go with what we’ve got and I’m very confident we’ll have enough to meet the objectives we’ve got for the rest of the season.”
Fixture Schedule and Injury Concerns
Peterborough face Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy quarter-finals on Wednesday, a competition they won last season at Wembley. However, their next three league matches are all away, with trips to Charlton Athletic, Stevenage, and Huddersfield Town.
The club has also suffered a setback with on-loan defender Jadel Katongo ruled out for “at least six weeks” after suffering a fresh hamstring injury in the defeat at Bristol Rovers.
Writer’s View
While Peterborough’s lack of late-window signings may concern fans, Ferguson’s belief in his squad suggests he trusts the players at his disposal. With key fixtures ahead, their survival hopes will depend on how well they navigate their upcoming away games. Holding on to Kyprianou and Fernandez could prove crucial, but injuries could test the squad’s depth in the coming weeks.
