Any hopes of signing the player seemed to have faded, but contact with Stoke was re-established late in the afternoon, and it was then a case of rushing to get the papers signed before the 5pm deadline.
John Ward said that a medical still needed to be done, and that personal terms will need to be agreed with Brian, but that a nominal fee had been agreed with the Division One side. It is hoped that the work required for a permanent deal will be completed within the next few days.