Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that he was in Holland to watch ADO Den Haag take on Heracles Almelo earlier in the month but remained tight-lipped on whether Heracles keeper Remko Pasveer was his target.
Jewell said: "I just went to watch a game. There were a few players on show that we were told about. I met Romeo Zondervan over there, he took us to the game.
“To be honest, the tempo of the game was so slow that you couldn’t compare it to a Championship game over here.
“I didn’t really get an idea of whether players – whether that’s goalkeepers or right-backs or left wingers or midfield players – could play at Championship level where it really is a million miles an hour.
“We will definitely be taking trips abroad. We’ve widened our scouting network anyway but the problem is getting to games. It’s easier for me to get to Holland than it is to get to Derby from Ipswich! Easyjet 35 minutes and you’re there. We could be spotted in Scotland, in Ireland, I get spotted everywhere, unfortunately.”
TWTD understands that the Blues are unlikely to take their interest in Pasveer any further. Our Dutch sources suggest ADO's Lex Immers and Heracles pair Willie Overtoom and Lerin Duarte, all midfielders, could be the other players involved in the match who may have been recommended to the Town boss.
Jewell also confirmed that, also as reported by TWTD, he was at Southend last Friday “I had my Bradford scarf on. That’s a local game for me - it’s only an hour.
“I think it’s important that we can take in all variants of the game, whether that’s League One, League Two, the Championship, Premier League reserve games, Holland or Germany. It’s important that we have as wide a network as possible.”
Jewell again says he was having a general look rather than targeting any individuals, such as Southend goalkeeper Luke Daniels, who is on loan from West Brom: “He’s on loan from somewhere, isn’t he? He did OK. I wasn’t looking at him. I was just looking to see what’s about.
“Obviously Bradford is the team I still support anyway, but I’ve watched Southend a few times. I think it’s important to see games at all levels and that’s the reason I went to the game, I didn’t go to look at anyone specific.”
Meanwhile, Jewell dismissed links with Bolton youngster Mark Connolly: “I got a text last night about the centre-half from Bolton, Mark Connolly, but, no disrespect to him, I’ve never heard of him. That’s not to say he’s not a good player."
Elsewhere, Hibs are reported to have agreed an 18-month deal with Sligo Rovers striker Eoin Doyle, who was linked with the Blues earlier in the week.
Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk