ABERDEEN BACK IN FOR DOBIE AS HART SIGNS PRESTON PRE-CONTRACT

 

08:50 - 15 January 2008

 

Aberdeen have warned Preston North End that they will not allow Michael Hart to leave until the English club meets the Dons valuation of the defender.

 

Hart yesterday signed a pre-contract agreement with the Championship side. He will join the Deepdale team on a free transfer in the summer but Preston are keen to take him south early and strike a deal for a transfer window move. The Lancashire club has already had one bid for Hart rejected and talks have reached a stalemate. The Dons are keen to match the £175,000 offered by Plymouth before the player opted for a move to the north-west and denied the Pittodrie side a windfall.

 

Director of football Willie Miller said: "We haven't agreed anything to release Michael Hart during the transfer window. He has a pre-contract agreement with Preston but could still be with us until the summer."

 

The Dons last night revived their interest in Nottingham Forest forward Scott Dobie and would need a large fee for Hart to help fund that deal. Talks with the Scotland international have begun but Carlisle are also keen after being alerted to Dobie's availability.

 

Aberdeen made a move for Dobie in August but could not complete a deal. The prospect of pulling in a six-figure fee for Hart has led them to return for a player who is free to leave Forest if he can find a suitable club.

 

Preston chairman Derek Shaw has been handling negotiations but insists his club will not be held to ransom despite its struggle against relegation this season.

 

Shaw said: "We made Aberdeen an offer this month which was not accepted. Ideally, we would like to agree compensation in the January transfer window and Michael can start his Preston North End career sooner rather than later. If that doesn't happen, he will be our player in time for pre-season."

 

If Preston increase their offer for Hart and match Aberdeen's expectations, Dutch defender Dave Bus will move to the head of manager Jimmy Calderwood's wish list. The De Graafschap defender impressed during a Pittodrie trial last week but will not be recruited unless either Hart or Plymouth target Chris Clark departs this month. Calderwood is keen to secure Bus on a four-month loan deal.

 

Aberdeen and Plymouth have yet to reach agreement on Clark's transfer, with the Dons hoping to retain him until after next week's Scottish Cup replay against Falkirk. The club is still in talks with Barry Nicholson aimed at persuading him to extend his stay.

Anybody ken fit the fee will be that we receive fae Preston? Cannae find it anywhere. Everywhere's saying "fee agreed", but nobody says how much

 

Dinna think it has been quoted in the press but I doubt it will be 6 figures hence he is still hingin aboot.

Dinna think it has been quoted in the press but I doubt it will be 6 figures hence he is still hingin aboot.

 

I'll have to retract that as apparently he is off for £175k. Wooo hooo! Have United released anybody that we can sign noo??

So we get more for Clark than Hart. I'm confused.

When was the last time we signed someone on a pre-season contract?

 

There's only one I can think of but can't for the life of me remember who it was.

Baz Nicholson?

When was the last time we signed someone on a pre-season contract?

 

There's only one I can think of but can't for the life of me remember who it was.

 

2 Motherwell players? Craig and Adams?

So we get more for Clark than Hart. I'm confused.

 

I think the negotiations might have been the other way around from Plymouth. PNE signed him on a pre-contract THEN a fee was agreed.

 

Plymouth plundered our prize asset for a paltry 2 hunner k. 

So we get more for Clark than Hart. I'm confused.

 

Might be because he's injured just now and won't play for the next month and even then it'll be a couple weeks before he's match fit again?

Baz Nicholson?

 

Any news on his improved offer?

Any news on his improved offer?

 

He hasn't signed it.

I think the negotiations might have been the other way around from Plymouth. PNE signed him on a pre-contract THEN a fee was agreed.

 

Plymouth plundered our prize asset for a paltry 2 hunner k. 

 

Sturrock is crazy as a coconut.

When was the last time we signed someone on a pre-season contract?

 

There's only one I can think of but can't for the life of me remember who it was.

 

Hehe, I was gonna say Cato Guntveit.