Revealed: how Port Vale missed out on International midfielder
Oxford United winger Gavin Whyte has revealed how he persuaded Mark Sykes to opt for a move to Oxford United over one to Port Vale.
The Valiants believed they had landed the midfielder when they agreed terms with his club Glenavon in the January 2019 transfer window.
I rang Sykesy straight away and told him to hold off if he could. He did just that, signed for Oxford, and I’m buzzing for him…
However, former Northern Ireland U21 player Whyte managed to persuade his former teammate to opt for Oxford instead.
He told the Belfast Telegraph: “I was actually with people from the club in Frankie & Benny’s beside our stadium when Port Vale agreed a deal with Glenavon and I told the manager and chairman they should definitely try to sign him.
“I rang Sykesy straight away and told him to hold off if he could. He did just that, signed for Oxford, and I’m buzzing for him because he has done really well since coming to the club.”
Sykes form for Oxford United has earned the midfielder a call-up to the full Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Estonia and Belarus.
Mick
6th June 2019 @ 3:55 pm
Is the manager just going to sign up non-league players? If so, we will end up in non-league football