Howe snubs striker bid

By Editor
January 20 2003

Basingstoke Town manager Ernie Howe insists Rangers will not be able to sign his club's star striker Craig McAllister on the cheap.

The Ryman Premier League outfit have rejected an offer from Rangers for McAllister, who had a trial at Loftus Road last week.

Former R's defender Howe said: "He did well there and QPR made an offer that wasn't enough. They are very interested and we think we'll hear from them again.

"We'd need to pay the kind of money Rangers were talking about just to get a replacement, so he's back with us at the moment.

"Reading and Luton are also keen and Southend have spoken to us about him. There is a lot of interest in him and that doesn't surprise me."

Howe has no doubt that McAllister is capable of playing at a higher level.

He signed the 22-year-old former Southampton trainee from Eastleigh and McAllister last year has repaid him with 21 goals in 31 matches.

"I definitely think he can make it. He scores goals and goalscorers are hard to come by," Howe added.

"I went to see him play for QPR's reserves and he was really impressive - and that's even when he is not as fit as the other players who are full-time."

McAllister is the fourth highly-rated non-League forward Rangers have targeted in the last 12 months.

Reading beat them to the signing of Bas Savage from Walton & Hersham last season and in the summer, Ian Holloway failed to land Gravesend & Northfleet's Liam Hatch and pulled out of a deal to sign Marc McGregor from Nuneaton due to doubts over the player's fitness.