Source: Northern_Echo
Triple swoop sees former star return to Quakers
FOLLOWING the exit of Darlington's loan players the club have made a triple transfer swoop with an ex-Quakers midfielder among Steve Staunton's new recruits.[LNB] Clark Keltie is to return having been freed by Rochdale last month, while Tadhg Purcell and Gary Dempsey have joined from League of Ireland clubs.[LNB] But they must wait for their debut as tomorrow's game at Bury has been postponed.[LNB] Heavy snowfall has left the Gigg Lane pitch frozen while there are concerns over the safety of the surrounding areas.[LNB] The fixture is Quakers' fifth consecutive postponement, meaning they have not played since December 12.[LNB] Their next match is scheduled to be at The Northern Echo Arena a week tomorrow against Aldershot when the aforementioned trio hope to play.[LNB] Midfielder Keltie, 26, has been training with Darlington for a month following loan spells with Chester and Gateshead and is expected to put pen to paper on a sixmonth deal on Monday.[LNB] But the two League of Ireland players have already signed until the end of the season.[LNB] Purcell, 24, can play as a striker or on the wing and arrives from Shamrock Rovers for whom he played against Real Madrid last July.[LNB] The Spanish giants gave Cristiano Ronaldo his first appearance in a friendly against the Irish side.[LNB] Midfielder Dempsey, 28, is counts Dunfermline, Aberdeen and Yeovil among his previous clubs and he arrives from St Patrick's Athletic for whom he played in the UEFA Cup last season.[LNB] Tadhg is a strong boy, a grafter. He knows the game, he's a good finisher and he's a good talker too which is important,[LNB] said Staunton, who has had the Irish pair on trial for several weeks.[LNB] Gary is more experienced.[LNB] He's 28 and he's a good allround midfielder, he can play but he can put his foot in and he should be a good signing.[LNB] Keltie was released by Darlington in 2008, and Staunton added: Clark is going to sign on Monday and I'm still in the market for a couple more players.[LNB] He's been training with us and I like what I see. It's all been indoors because of the weather but I like his attitude.[LNB] The positions of these signings took care of themselves because we knew what we were looking for. It's getting the right people now at the back.[LNB] We're working hard to bring in an experienced goalkeeper but they are not cheap so that one is tough.[LNB] Staunton also wants at least one defender. With Mark Bower injured and the impasse with Steve Foster no nearer to being resolved, his central defensive options are only Ian Miller and teenager Dan Burn although Rikki Bains is available following his loan at Blyth.[LNB]
