Cheltenham Town: Matt Sparrow and Shaun Harrad join on loan

Cheltenham Town have signed Scunthorpe United midfielder Matt Sparrow and Notts County striker Shaun Harrad on loan until the end of the season.

Harrad, 30, returns to the Robins after scoring 10 goals during a season-long loan in 2012-13 to help them reach the League Two play-offs.

Sparrow, 33, has spent 13 years at Scunthorpe in two spells and played more than 430 games for the club.

Both players go into Cheltenham's squad to face Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

"Matt is a very good player, who will talk to the younger boys," Cheltenham Town boss Russell Milton said.

"I know Shaun very well and his goalscoring record speaks for itself, so he'll be a massive asset.

"Both players have been given glowing references from everyone I have spoken to, but I know a lot about them myself and they are just what we need."

Milton hopes to add another new face to his squad in the near future.

"We are close with a third, who can play at centre-half or in a holding midfield role and all three will give their best for this club.

"They are the sort of characters we need, so hopefully they can go on to become heroes for Cheltenham Town," he told the club website

He wasn't getting played here at the moment but is fit so this makes sense. Hope he does well and shows he still has something to offer when he returns.

I suppose that was inevitable he hasn't been selected and we have an abundance of strikers at the moment.

@tonyhateley Yet fans are asking on Twitter for a replacement, we have more than enough to cope. I hope we can bring in a defender but to be honest, I don't expect to see any more signings.

Shaun did okay for us when he started, he looked eager and lively.

He was a decent signing for us, which it's a shame to see him phased out. I don't know why, though it doesn't seem fitness related if he's been allowed to leave on loan. I personally think he will be released by us, though I do echo @Dan-Pie with his comments about him doing well and coming back, it was nice to have a Notts lad as a striker. If he does well, perhaps he can come back and contend for a starting position?

@tonyhateley Yet fans are asking on Twitter for a replacement, we have more than enough to cope. I hope we can bring in a defender but to be honest, I don't expect to see any more signings.

Shaun did okay for us when he started, he looked eager and lively.

He was a decent signing for us, which it's a shame to see him phased out. I don't know why, though it doesn't seem fitness related if he's been allowed to leave on loan. I personally think he will be released by us, though I do echo @Dan-Pie with his comments about him doing well and coming back, it was nice to have a Notts lad as a striker. If he does well, perhaps he can come back and contend for a starting position?

 

 

I tend not to read what football fans are saying on Twitter and Facebook because it just seems that some people use it to spout a lot of rubbish and be abusive to each other, I'd much rather come on here and read polite well reasoned arguments.

 

I was pleased to see Shaun Harrod come back into the fold when we signed him but he hasn't really lived up to expectations, whether that is because he hasn't had the chance is another matter, I really don't think we need a replacement I agree with you @notts-joe a better priority would be a good defender.

Edited February 26, 201510 yr by tonyhateley

He's hardly had any game time at all since he signed his contract extension, what on earth did the management expect of him? Surely if they think he's good enough to hand a contract to, he's good enough to be given a proper chance. At times I think the manager just signs players in bulk to increase his chances of finding a diamond in the rough. This is just another in a long line of pointless signings I'm afraid.

Apparently he was on very minimal wage, so it made sense to sign him as backup if some targets weren't acquired. However, now he is surplus so a loan move suits both parties. 

Supposedly the move was only permitted as we are awaiting to approve a replacement.

Now, a replacement for me suggests another striker but this is not always the case because it's one in and one out - he wasn't playing either so it leaves room for that speculation. My gut feelings it will be a striker, probably someone along the lines of Paddy (who needs game time). I can hope we sign a defender, if another loan comes in the form of an offensive player we can surely put to rest the defender coming in, unless we send someone else back.

now jcr comes in it seems to make sense to reduce the budget a little, tho i am pleased its not a striker. i do feel we have enough wingers but that is not knocking this, it is still a good thing.

hope he comes back wanting to prove himself.

I'm sure he'll get the supporters behind him

Regards Al

You Pies!

Woo hoo

It makes perfect sense, game time is important and he is no real loss. I see him rejoining them on a free myself.