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Lincoln's Gareth McAuley appears unlikely to move to Crewe after failing to agree personal terms. Crewe had agreed a £150,000 fee with Lincoln and despite initial signs being positive, with Lincoln's chairman suggesting that McAuley was 'happy' at the prospect of joining Crewe, as yet a deal has failed to be agreed.
McAuley is yet to travel to Crewe to speak with Dario Gradi but instead a short meeting with McAuley's agent, Mel Eves, proved unproductive with Eves rumoured to be demanding that McAuley should be on a wage in the region of £3500 per week. Dario has described McAuley's agent's role in the transfer as a 'complication' with the agent seemingly keen to recoup himself as large a fee as possible, as well as getting his client as high a wage as possible. Ironically, Eves had been involved in the deal to bring the two Polish defenders to the club but Dario has now eliminated Eves from the discussions regarding the Polish players. It is believed that Dario has set McAuley a 'Monday or Tuesday' deadline for deciding on a move to Crewe. Gradi rates the chances of McAuley signing as 50/50 but is keen for a decision to be reached as, he claims, the club 'want to be making some moves.'
The reasons for McAuley's delay are believed to involve both footballing and financial factors. With Leicester and Doncaster reportedly interested, but unwilling to meet Crewe's bid, McAuley believed that if he stays at Lincoln until the summer, a better move may arise with at least one offer likely to materialise from a Championship club as no fee would be involved for the 26-year old defender. As well as the factor of guaranteed Championship football for the 06/07 season, McAuley believes that if he holds out for a move, he is also likely to secure a better salary elsewhere. It is, however, still possible that Crewe could sign McAuley on a free transfer in the summer, though that would require no interest to arise from bigger clubs.
With other transfers in the pipeline, the Crewe management will face an anxious January as they hope both their offers for players are accepted, and the players subsequently agree on terms.