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Former Wanderers boss Dougie Freedman has ruled himself out of the running to sign Matt Mills and Adam Bogdan.
The Scot, now in charge of Nottingham Forest, distanced himself from speculation linking him with the two out-of-contract stars – claiming bizarrely that he does not like to work with players from former clubs.
“I am not a huge fan of bringing in players I have worked with before,” he said. “I have done that, of course but I would like to think I have a wider range of knowledge, beyond the players I have already worked with.”
That statement will have raised some eyebrows among Wanderers fans, who often criticised Freedman for going back to tried-and-trusted avenues for signings.
Of the signings Freedman made at Bolton, he had worked or played with at least seven: Jermaine Beckford (played with at Leeds United), Andre Moritz (Crystal Palace), Ross Fitzsimons (Crystal Palace), Neil Danns (played with at Crystal Palace), Quade Taylor (Crystal Palace), Dean Moxey (Crystal Palace) and Owen Garvan (Crystal Palace).
Nevertheless, Freedman believes he can do his former club a favour by withdrawing Forest’s name from the running with Mills – and Bogdan, who had not previously been linked with Forest, for good measure.
"Matt Mills is a very easy player to link us with, because I have worked with him before and he is available,” he told the Nottingham Post.
"But it is a false story. I am in the market for a central defender and I have worked with him before. I will let you decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
"He is a good guy, but I have a wider range in my recruitment that I can select from. I suspect Matt's agent is using these links with other clubs to get him a better contract at Bolton, as he negotiates with them. So, to help my old club out, I'd like to say there is no truth in that.
"Adam is probably the same situation. He will be trying to get a new deal as well.”
Wanderers are negotiating with both Mills and Bogdan about a new deal next season although their lack of financial clout gives them little room for manoeuvre.
Forest, who are in a transfer embargo and unable to spend more than £10,000-a-week on a single player’s wage, are in the same boat, says Freedman.
“This will happen at this stage of the season, as players look to get contracts,” he said.
"If I am not mistaken, Bolton have offered both of them contracts. It would not surprise me if they were in negotiations now.
“I am truthful and honest and I will tell you if I have spoken to a player. I have not.
"They are good players and good guys. But we are shopping in a different marketplace, when you look at their wages."
"I will need to be persuasive to bring players here. But that does not mean that is has to be players I already know. I would like to think that I have proved we can bring players here already.”
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The Scot, now in charge of Nottingham Forest, distanced himself from speculation linking him with the two out-of-contract stars – claiming bizarrely that he does not like to work with players from former clubs.
“I am not a huge fan of bringing in players I have worked with before,” he said. “I have done that, of course but I would like to think I have a wider range of knowledge, beyond the players I have already worked with.”
That statement will have raised some eyebrows among Wanderers fans, who often criticised Freedman for going back to tried-and-trusted avenues for signings.
Of the signings Freedman made at Bolton, he had worked or played with at least seven: Jermaine Beckford (played with at Leeds United), Andre Moritz (Crystal Palace), Ross Fitzsimons (Crystal Palace), Neil Danns (played with at Crystal Palace), Quade Taylor (Crystal Palace), Dean Moxey (Crystal Palace) and Owen Garvan (Crystal Palace).
Nevertheless, Freedman believes he can do his former club a favour by withdrawing Forest’s name from the running with Mills – and Bogdan, who had not previously been linked with Forest, for good measure.
"Matt Mills is a very easy player to link us with, because I have worked with him before and he is available,” he told the Nottingham Post.
"But it is a false story. I am in the market for a central defender and I have worked with him before. I will let you decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
"He is a good guy, but I have a wider range in my recruitment that I can select from. I suspect Matt's agent is using these links with other clubs to get him a better contract at Bolton, as he negotiates with them. So, to help my old club out, I'd like to say there is no truth in that.
"Adam is probably the same situation. He will be trying to get a new deal as well.”
Wanderers are negotiating with both Mills and Bogdan about a new deal next season although their lack of financial clout gives them little room for manoeuvre.
Forest, who are in a transfer embargo and unable to spend more than £10,000-a-week on a single player’s wage, are in the same boat, says Freedman.
“This will happen at this stage of the season, as players look to get contracts,” he said.
"If I am not mistaken, Bolton have offered both of them contracts. It would not surprise me if they were in negotiations now.
“I am truthful and honest and I will tell you if I have spoken to a player. I have not.
"They are good players and good guys. But we are shopping in a different marketplace, when you look at their wages."
"I will need to be persuasive to bring players here. But that does not mean that is has to be players I already know. I would like to think that I have proved we can bring players here already.”
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