Tigers pounce for Parkin

Hull City have swooped to sign Macclesfield striker Jon Parkin for £150,000.

Hull City have swooped to sign Macclesfield striker Jon Parkin for £150,000.

With Lincoln, Chester and Oxford all seemingly battling it out for the highly-rated youngster's signature, City's interest came as a bolt from the blue.

The Imps had seen a bid believed to be worth around £125,000 turned down, and were reportedly preparing another package aimed at attracting him to Sincil Bank.

But Hull boss Peter Taylor has since stepped in to offer Parkin a Championship stage and an 18-month contract.

"He's better on the ball than what people give him credit for. He's an ex-centre half that's turned into a centre forward," Taylor told the Hull Daily Mail.

"But everyone that I've spoken to who has dealt with him and had him as a player, or players that have played with him, have said what a handful and what a better footballer he is than people think.

"He's 6ft 4ins, he's going to cause centre halves problems and I think he'll help us keep the ball. If he carries on his scoring record that's going to be good news for us.

"When we played Sheffield United recently I said how well Neil Shipperley played and I think he's that type of player."

Macclesfield boss Brian Horton says that although he will miss the burly target man, the offer was far too good to turn down.

"As a manager you're always disappointed to see good players leave but Jon is going to a good club and it really is a brilliant move for him," he told the club's website.

"He's a great lad, influential both on the pitch and in the dressing room. He will be missed."

Parkin will now hope to forge a partnership with fellow new signing Darryl Duffy.