Luton’s pursuit of striker Jon Shaw could have hit a dead end after assistant manager Alan Neilson admitted there is little the Hatters can do to tempt players if clubs don’t want to sell.
Last week Town boss Gary Brabin refused to rule out another move for the hitman after being rebuffed in the summer, but Gateshead chief Ian Bogie responded by saying that the 20-goal Blue Square Bet Premier top marksman was going nowhere.
And Neilson conceded that could be the end of the matter, saying: “He’s [Shaw] scored goals in this league, so he is a player that all the top clubs are probably looking at, but if a team doesn’t want to sell then we can’t do anything about it.”
But Brabin’s second in command at Kenilworth Road explained that the search for new faces will continue regardless.
“Any football team is always looking to improve their squad but it has to be the right player,” said Neilson. “I think we need one or two players in different areas, but the whole squad is very good at the minute.
“Of course, everyone wants a striker, a central midfielder or a centre half to improve things but there are not a lot of players out there.”
The coach believes that the market is even tougher these days because Premier League clubs are on the hunt for a bargain.
Neilson said: “If you look at the scouting network of teams – and a lot of non-league sides – is very vast now.
“It’s about picking up a gem.
“I speak to a lot of people who say that even the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are looking at the Conference and below because of what happened with (Chris) Smalling. Fulham got him and sold him for a lot of money.
“It’s hard out there.”
The Luton assistant admitted that the club are looking all through the football pyramid but that it can be hard to convince players to drop into into the non-league.
But the success of Jamie Vardy at Conference title rivals Fleetwood – who’s 17 goals since moving from FC Halifax Town has alerted Championship outfits and placed a £1 million price tag on his head – highlights that there are players to be found lower down the leagues.
And some may not be too far away as Neilson revealed that Bedford Town striker Drew Roberts is a player that Town have considered.
The two clubs have a link after Dan Walker moved to the south of the county in 2010 but the current Eagles man is hot property at present after hitting 28 goals in all competitions to perch comfortably top of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League goal charts.
“He’s a player that has been mentioned,” said Neilson. “We have to look at everything like how old he is and where he’s been.
“Have people watched him, do they think he’s good enough to play in our team and will he improve the squad?
“Sometimes it’s the spin of a coin whether you make the right decision.”
