SAINTS CLOSE IN ON ORMEROD DEAL

It is believed that The Saints are prepared to up their initial bid of £1 million by a further £750,000 in order to secure the 25-year-old's signature ahead of Wigan Athletic who recently tabled a £1.5 million offer.

The Seasiders had been keen to hang onto the Blackburn-born marksman, although the club always said that if the right package was offered and it was in the interests of the player to leave, then they would not stand in his way.

McMahon commented: "We have to be happy for Brett and his family because it is a great chance for the lad.

"I have four players lined up and we should be able to make the team stronger overall."

One of those players is widely held to be Chesterfield striker Luke Beckett - a similar type of player to Ormerod in both style and stature - and it would be no surprise if McMahon now steps up his pursuit of the former Chester City man.

Ormerod has racked up an impressive 20 goals in just 27 appearances this season, with 46 league goals to his name having joined the Bloomfield Road outfit from Accrington Stanley in 1997 for £50,000.