Interest in ace Jolley intensifies

8:00am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Andrew Penman

IN DEMAND: Christian Jolley IN DEMAND: Christian Jolley

NEWPORT County AFC face further competition for the signing of Christian Jolley with the news that promotion rivals Wrexham have joined the race for his signature.

The in-demand AFC Wimbledon forward has failed to feature in the past two games for the Dons and boss Neal Ardley is ready to cash in on the hotshot. Forest Green Rovers and Luton Town have had bids in the region of £25,000 accepted, although the Hatters have since withdrawn their interest.

County are also keen on Jolley after his impressive loan spell at Rodney Parade before Christmas, when he scored five goals in four games before being recalled.

Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh is believed to have offered £15,000 but is reluctant to pay any more for a player who would be available on a free transfer in the summer when his contract expires.

Now Wrex-ham have enquired about the 24-year-old, with Dartford also expressing an interest, and it seems the race to sign Jolley will go on until the transfer window closes.

Edinburgh and director of football Tim Harris are still in negotiations with Forest Green Rovers to bring defender Chris Todd back to the club but are no closer to agreeing a deal for another player whose contract is up at the end of the season.

The chances of striker Michael Smith extending his loan spell from Charlton Athletic in time to feature for County at Lincoln City on Saturday also appear to be receding.

Smith returned to Charlton on Monday for discussions with manager Chris Powell, although County have been in dialogue with the Championship side.

The good news for Edinburgh is that centre-back Ismail Yakubu should be fit to face the Imps and captain David Pipe and striker Danny Crow should also be available.

Comments(30)

Adrian Williams says...
9:51am Wed 9 Jan 13

I really hope that the club shows some ambition in this transfer window and looks to improve the team from the position of strength that we find ourselves in. We need to send out the right message to the manager and players that it's a club going places and worth staying at. If we let the grass grow under our feet, the likes of Justin Edinburgh, David Pipe, Aaron O'Conner etc. will move on and missed targets like Christian Jolley might just fire our rivals to promotion. Strike now whilst the iron is hot I say, otherwise momentum is lost and we risk going backwards. Wrexham and Luton proved with their results last night that we need to be on the ball, so let's not dither and lose out.

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Missing Somerton says...
10:23am Wed 9 Jan 13

Lets not panic eh! County mustn't become insolvent in their pursuit of league football. The problem with promotion to the football league is that it doesn't come with a great financial windfall like the Premier League does.

It'd be pointless being in the league but not being financially capable of staying there.

What mystifies me is that Jolley looked so good at County but isn't deemed good enough for the team bottom of the football league! Is there something we don't know?

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Adrian Williams says...
10:41am Wed 9 Jan 13

It's getting the balance right though isn't it i.e saving 10k on Jolley now weighed up against the revenue gained from promotion. Don't go overboard with spending - I agree absolutely, but don't be too reluctant at the same time. I certainly don't want to see Jolley go to Wrexham or Forest Green - that would definitely strengthen their hand against us

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ohc says...
10:45am Wed 9 Jan 13

Mr Penman, how does a player who cant get a game in a poor Second Division side merit the term "ace"? Lets see reality from the Argus please. Can I suggest those so keen to buy him offer to pay the £10,000 over JE's valuation?

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llandaff says...
11:01am Wed 9 Jan 13

OK So what's plan B if we don't go for Jolley? Surely there are other talented players in the frame. Trouble is it all seems a bit slow with us in the 9th day of the transfer window and not much happening.

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Hereford Exile says...
12:14pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Ace when used as an adjective, or as a noun, describing a player in any sport can mean he was expert, champion, brilliant, great, superb, outstanding, excellent, first rate, fine, skilful, adept, ... (all synonyms for ace found in the dictionary).

So yes, "ace" is a fitting description of Jolley. He was some or all of those things in his time with NCAFC.

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djpleb says...
12:52pm Wed 9 Jan 13

He fits perfectly in the county set up but obviously not at wimbledon, buy him quick before all the money has gone!!!!
Couldn't resist a dig!!

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rhinestine says...
2:29pm Wed 9 Jan 13

He's rubbish, let him go, never holds the 12 yard box and never looks up....

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
3:22pm Wed 9 Jan 13

rhinestine wrote:
He's rubbish, let him go, never holds the 12 yard box and never looks up....
????????????

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lowandhardandinthecorner says...
3:28pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Adrian Williams has hit the nail on the head, the guy fitted into the squad and did the business,what more was required.
Need a " statement " from the club in terms of signings as we need strengthening and if he goes to our rivals then fans will quickly get disillusioned about the club's ambition.

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Slider02 says...
3:41pm Wed 9 Jan 13

rhinestine - you are a complete pratt!

however i would, if i may say so, now that we know the price tag for christian jolley - would it not be prudent to swallow some pride and (for once) aquire a player that not only wants to play for the club - but the fans and the boss also want him as well. Go to the board and for christ sake - BUY HIM!

Everyone knows that we seriously need a prolific goal scorer - and please - put pidgley back between the sticks ! (coz that other guy makes a collander look a safe bet some days)

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Old Gaer Boy says...
3:44pm Wed 9 Jan 13

If he comes back and we stay in the promotion race. £10.000 is just under 600 seats at £17 each,with over almost half the season to go.I would expect the total extra spectators would be easily exceeded.

Whilst I agree it is vital to balance the books,this may be worth the risk

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jetspotter says...
4:02pm Wed 9 Jan 13

I know I'm being naive but if FGR have had a bid in the region of £25,000 accepted why is he still available? Are AFC Wimbledon simply accepting all offers in this price range in the hope of starting a bidding war ?

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COUNTYVOICE says...
5:51pm Wed 9 Jan 13

JUSTIN GO GET JOLLEY

its a calculated risk , BUT IT IS A RISK WORTH TAKING AND for an extra £10k the guy is worth it.

DONT LET ONE OF YOUR OTHER PROMOTION RIVALS SNAP HIM UP

the deck is stacked in your favour, jolley knows the county set up , knows the players and management , the fans loved him when he played for us.

AND BEST OF ALL HE IS AN IMPACT PLAYER

by that i mean it could be a boring 0-0 draw against barrow, and suddenly out from nowhere JOLLEY accelerates with pace to create space, or jinks here and jinks there , shots hey presto 1-0

he lll get goals from nowhere and would be a PERFECT foil for AARON O CONNOR, another player who is unpredictable , but in a good way.

funds have been released by smith leaving, so TAKE A PUNT, PUT THAT BID OF £25K IN , AND LET JOLLEY DECIDE WHERE HE WOULD LIKE TO GO.

ps ALSO THE LURE OF REGULAR FIRST TEAM FOOTBALL, WOULD DEFINATELY SWAY THE GUY.

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT PROMOTION, TAKE A GAMBLE WITH JOLLEY, AND AS I SAID BEFORE HE S YOUR TICKET TO LEAGUE 2.

get in there son ..............

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ambertomtom says...
6:10pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Aren't people forgetting that it was JED'S decision to not sign him as he doesn't feel spending 25K on a player with 6 months left is good value

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ohc says...
6:50pm Wed 9 Jan 13

OR Hereford Exile one could term him as scoring a couple of goodish goals over a short time ie no sustained performance. Hardly merits your interpretations. Now Aldridge was an ace for County... we will have all forgetten this guy in a few weeks.

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COUNTYVOICE says...
6:55pm Wed 9 Jan 13

had to beg to differ, but £10k invested in getting to league 2 ,

isnt that every county supporters dream?

we may not get his signature but at least THINK BIG and be in there competing with our other rivals.

wimbledon have accepted 25k from our rivals , that means its up to the player to decide where he would like to go.

at least county would be in with a chance and not as a virtual spectator hanging on the fence.

i d be talking differently if silly money like 100 k was being bandied about but less than 30k for a quality player???

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larneman says...
7:07pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Come on Cardiff great Manger with imagination great boardroom behind him. Anybody who is any good has been bought by other clubs already. Newport will have to manage with what they have. No smith. no Jolley. and no Todd but relax we have Washington. Pidgley will soon be sold to make money for a new C.E. Come on Swansea. great Manager great boardroom all with an eye for the future. I will be down home at easter, hopefully Cardiff or Swansea will be playing at home. Good luck County fans I doubt that J.E. ever reads your comments as positive as they may be.

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Pez10 says...
7:10pm Wed 9 Jan 13

The County won't get a player like Jolley on a free transfer in the summer, the chances are he'll be looking to join a newly promoted league two side. Only then if the county have managed to miss out on promotion. We'll look back and ask ourselves why we never spent the money he's truly worth.

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COUNTYVOICE says...
7:12pm Wed 9 Jan 13

and the argument of why wimbledon havent picked him to play in the first team................
...

need i go back to a certain player who couldnt even make the kidderminster first eleven..............
.A CERTAIN MY CRAIG REID AND SAM FOLEY

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netala says...
7:35pm Wed 9 Jan 13

you have heard the saying "speculate to accummulate" well this is a classic example of that. we know what he can do , from the terraces to the stands. every time he as the ball, we hold our breathes, in anticipation. as a previous poster said, the extra 10k can be made back in extra feet through the turnstiles. if the board are serious about promotion, then prove it to the fans, or do they want to dwell in mediocrity.

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Ranger12 says...
7:39pm Wed 9 Jan 13

A couple of thoughts are people getting carried away with one very good performance against Luton. Wimbledon have a better grasp of his attitude , consistency etc.

All the talk about Jolly being great value - what is ths measured against who else is available for £25k.

Let's do our jobs and leave Justin to do his after all considering where we were when he was appointed he hasn't done bad!

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COUNTYVOICE says...
7:53pm Wed 9 Jan 13

trust me ranger you will not pick up a any other quality player for 25k

and its not just the one performance, from his debut he shone out on the radio commentary, and i believe he scored on his debut.

agree WITH NETALA any many of the other positive contributors FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE, go get him AND JOLLEY good luck.

besides as well as a good player, he can provide some jolley good puns too :-)

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emlynkide says...
9:56pm Wed 9 Jan 13

you've got to trust the people in charge, they know through the grape vine about players, and what there worth, but 25k in football terms isnt a lott of bunce, over to you j. e.

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COUNTYVOICE says...
2:45am Thu 10 Jan 13

that is peanuts be ambitious county

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rhinestine says...
1:25pm Thu 10 Jan 13

UP THE COUNTY!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!

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llandaff says...
3:14pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Hark, listen. You may be able to hear the Rodney Parade grass growing under the County's feet. Day 10 in the transfer window and STILL no new long term or loan player secured. What's the problem? We are 4 points behind the leaders and need to win the games in hand if we are to be serious promotion contenders. The clock is ticking!

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rhinestine says...
4:48pm Thu 10 Jan 13

UP THE COUNTY!!!

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NakedDancer says...
7:17pm Thu 10 Jan 13

COUNTYVOICE wrote:
trust me ranger you will not pick up a any other quality player for 25k

and its not just the one performance, from his debut he shone out on the radio commentary, and i believe he scored on his debut.

agree WITH NETALA any many of the other positive contributors FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE, go get him AND JOLLEY good luck.

besides as well as a good player, he can provide some jolley good puns too :-)
JE saw Jolley in training and matches and values him at no more than £15k. Jolley did a good job for County in 5 matches but he cant get into the bottom team in League 2 so he's no world beater.

99% of players in the Conference and League 2 are signed on free transfers simply because clubs cant afford transfer fees. It is very exceptional for a Conference club to pay any transfer fee let alone £25k+. County haven't paid a fee for any of the squad so you can recruit good players on frees - thats the managers challenge at this level to spot them, blend them and get a performance/result.

Wrexham and Luton have been financially mismanaged for years and County certainly don't want to go down that road again.

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COUNTYVOICE says...
10:10pm Thu 10 Jan 13

valid points naked dancer, but again i raise the point of CRAIG REID AND SAM FOLEY being unable to get into a first team when holdsworth signed them.

county's aim is to get back into the football league and if the signing of a potential firecracker like jolley catapults
county back into it it is worth a punt at 25k , anything closer to 70-80k now that is silly money.

but fortune favours the brave, and lets face it if jolley signs for wrexham , scores 10 goals for the rest of the season and they go up, who will have egg on their faces then .......

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