Source: FOOTYMAD
Shotton Looks Set For Loan Move South
Barnsley set to miss out on Potters youngster Stoke defender Ryan Shotton looks set to make it a trio of Potters defenders on loan at Fratton Park, as Steve Cotterill continues to battle against the tide at Portsmouth. Football League rules state a club can only have two loanees over the age of 23 and Portsmouth already have City stars Ibrahima Sonko and Carl Dickinson, both over 23, on loan but desperately need players for their paper thin squad. The financial restrictions mean that it is nigh impossible for Pompey to sign decent players permanently but they hope to get by with more loanee's until they are allowed more flexibility in the transfer market. Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill has already requested special dispensation to sign Potters striker David Kitson but has got to wait until the next Football Legaue board meeting on September 9th for the club to get the go ahead to bring Kitson in due to the amount Pompey will cover of his wages and the fact it will mean the club breaking the aforementioned loanee rule. Cotterill has also indicated he would like to possibly bring in Andrew Davies and Michael Tonge, as his relationship with his former club seems to be improving, but the pair are also over 23. Shotton however, is still 21, and after hugely successful season long loan spells at Altrincham, Tranmere and Barnsley he is bordering the Potters first team squad and, if this loan deal goes through, he will look to make an impression that will force the managers hand upon his return to the Potteries.
