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Adkins set to stay with Iron

Image: Adkins: Set for Scunthorpe stay

Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton believes Nigel Adkins' proposed switch to Southampton is off.

Southampton 'withdraw offer' to Scunthorpe boss

Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton believes Nigel Adkins' proposed switch to Southampton has fallen through. The Iron manager looked certain to be heading for St Mary's after the Glanford Park club released a statement on Thursday morning confirming he and assistant Andy Crosby had agreed terms with the South Coast side, with a compensation package still to be arranged. Saints have been searching for a new boss following their decision to axe Alan Pardew just three games into the new League One season. But it now appears Adkins, who has been in charge at Scunthorpe since November 2006 when he was promoted from his role as club physiotherapist to replace Brian Laws, is no longer in the frame. Wharton said: "The latest I've heard is that Southampton have withdrawn their offer to Nigel." The Scunthorpe supremo has been less than impressed with his dealings with Southampton and claims they put huge pressure on Adkins in a bid to force the deal through. "The situation is that Nigel and was given an ultimatum last night by Southampton to resign and accept their offer," Wharton added in Scunthorpe Telegraph.

Very difficult

"But Nigel was not prepared to do that. He wanted to walk out of Glanford Park with his head held high and everything agreed. "I have tried to contact the Southampton chairman today but have not been able to get hold of him. "I was not prepared to roll over and let Nigel leave for nothing. I wanted some compensation for what I felt he was worth. It was only a modest amount. "From a selfish point of view I will be happy if Nigel stays with us. But I also feel very sorry for Nigel if this was a move that he had set his heart on. "The Southampton people have been very difficult to deal with. They are probably not the right sort of people for Nigel to be working with. "But at the moment I am not exactly sure what the situation is until I have talked further to Nigel." Sky Bet - Next Permanent Southampton Manager

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