After Ant

ARGYLE manager has revealed that the club have made an attempt to sign Anthony O'Connor on a permanent basis.

Irishman O’Connor played the final game of his six-month loan deal with the Greens against Southend United, assisting in yet another clean sheet for the club in a goalless draw at Roots Hall.

Subsequently, Argyle have offered a fee to Rovers to secure the permanent capture of Anthony, but the player has turned down such a move at this stage, preferring to keep his options open.

Sheridan, though, has not ruled out the possibility of bringing Anthony back to Home Park in some capacity.

“We have offered Anthony O’Connor a permanent deal, and Anthony O’Connor does not want to sign a permanent deal at any club,” said John.

“He wants to keep his options open. He was happy here, wants to stay here and really enjoys his football here. We have tried to get him on a permanent deal, so respect to the chairman; he was willing to pay the bit of money that Blackburn wanted, but it is Anthony’s decision.

“He has gone back to Blackburn, and we will just try and sort a deal out to get him until the end of the season, on loan.”

The bid for O’Connor shows not only the gaffer’s admiration for the player, but the willingness of Argyle Chairman James Brent to help out financially with any deals that Sheridan wants to get done.

Said John: “If I felt we had to pay for a player, and I felt he would be a good addition to what we have got, then definitely [we can pay a fee]. It is nothing much, but the chairman is willing.

“I like Anthony as a player, but that is Anthony’s decision to keep his options open. He is playing well and I hoping we have still got a chance of getting him.

“I am not going to let it drag on for too long. I'd like to think that is there is a chance, it will be done by next week.

“Nothing is dead and buried. I have said that all three of the loan players (Bobby Reid, Andy Kellett and O'Connor) are very happy here, and were all very happy to stay here. It is not my decision – the respective clubs they are at, it is their decision.

"We are just working hard to get around the snags that are stopping us, and hopefully we can do something.

“If we cannot get them, we cannot get them, and I will look elsewhere and try and get someone else."