By Aston
November 8 2006

Town manager Jim Magilton has denied reports suggesting that Town want to sign Linfield striker Peter Thompson.

According to reports on the other side of the Irish, Jim had flown over to watch the 22-year-old striker in action, but he says that is simply not true.

 

Jim: “It's absolute rubbish. I can only assume the newspaper in question heard I was coming over and put two and two together to come up with five.

 

“I am going to Belfast today. I have agreed to go to my old school, St Mary's Grammar, and to present prizes and say a few words at an awards ceremony.

 

“My trip has nothing to do with football. I am simply doing my old school a favour - but that doesn't mean I don't know about Peter Thompson.

 

“Most people in football know the kid because of his goals and there have been plenty of managers and scouts watching him.

 

“I'm told that Andy Ritchie [Barnsley] and John Sheridan [Oldham] were having a look at him last night but Ipswich have known all about him for a couple of years.

 

“Joe [Royle] had him watched and we've got reports on the lad. But I never had any intention of going to Belfast to watch the game.

 

“I know Linfield are asking a lot of money for the player and we have never even got close to entering negotiations.

 

“It seems that every time there's a decent player in Northern Ireland I'm going to be linked with him because of my connections.”

 

Source: Evening Star

 

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