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Ollie has transfer wish list
IAN Holloway has given Karl Oyston a list of "three or four" replacements should Shaun Barker leave.
But initial inquiries about bringing in another quality defender have left the new boss shocked.
He claims the potential replacements – all from lower league clubs – are "ridiculously" overpriced and would cost almost as much as Pool would receive for Barker.
"When you go to a lower division club who might be struggling a little bit, they are asking for telephone numbers. It is absolutely ridiculous," said Holloway.
"I have already asked other clubs about their players and given the chairman three or four targets just in case Shaun goes.
"So they're already lined up to some extent.
"However, the insulting thing is that the people we've inquired about, their clubs are asking for almost more than we've been offered for Shaun.
"It is a ridiculous situation. It really is.
"You can call our valuation for Shaun ridiculous but ours is based on fact.
"Ours is based on what other people have gone for from our division to bigger clubs in our division and based on his age and where we finished.
"But the valuations from some lower league clubs ... there doesn't seem to be any grounds for them."
And Holloway makes it clear he won't be bullied into paying over the odds.
"They've got to realise that we deal professionally, up front and correctly," added the boss.
"We're not pushovers, we don't get robbed. No one actually spanks us in the transfer market.
"When I've looked at some of the prices that some players have gone for I don't agree with it.
"We've got to get value for money in a market which is very difficult at the moment.
"I have found it fantastic to deal with our chairman so far because what he says he means.
"He thinks about it and it might be a bit blunt and a bit in your face but at least you know where you stand.
"At least I know where I stand and our players know where they stand.
"He ain't going to be too generous but who cares? He is running it professionally and being realistic."
Derby and Nottingham Forest remain interested in signing Barker.
And although Holloway has admitted the defender has a price, he is still hoping the 26-year-old stays.
"I want to work with Shaun and, if I do, I guarantee I will make him play better than he has ever played before," said Holloway.
"I believe he'll play even better next year when I get the chance to talk to him about what I want him to do and how we do things.
"He won't be playing right back, he'll be centre half. I've seen a lot of the games when he was right back and I know he can do a job but at the moment Danny Coid is going to play there. Shaun will be centre half.
"If he doesn't play well enough I've other ones and he might not even play. But he's a good player and that's why I want him to stay."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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