Feb 1
Matt Smith, one of a triumvirate of Smith’s in Swindon’s squad, had made quite an impression at the County Ground, so much so that his parent club Arsenal called him back from his season-long loan and wanted to move him somewhere else. Sound familiar?
We have a good relationship with Arsenal and Gallen and Bowyer had the 20-year midfielder lined up in the summer, but were unable to finalize a loan deal due to the embargo.
Last week Charlton players returned to group training for the first time for 11 weeks. Week one of a planned four-week mini pre-season was non-contact with the players in small groups of five working on three different pitches. Lee Bowyer had 25 players back, everyone was tested and all results came back negative.
The three players who didn’t return were loanees Matt Smith and David Davis, and Tomer Hemed, who by all accounts will return from his home in Israel.
This has not been the firecracker of a day we hoped, but the Addicks have announced a second loan on transfer day with the acquisition of 20-year old Matt Smith from Man City.
On first view, it looks as if Man City have cancelled his season-loan to QPR to give him to Bowyer and Jacko to bring him on like they did Conor Gallagher, but Rangers long since planned to cancel his loan after Smith failed to make an impact at Loftus Road.
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