Magpies set to receive financial boost

After months of waiting due to Southampton's precarious financial situation, Notts County look set to finally receive the significant sum of money that is owed to them by the Saints due to clauses on the transfers of former players. Notts were already owed a five figure fee due to a sell-on clause that was activated when Best was signed by Coventry City for a six fugure sum last summer.

That amount was then added to when former youth prospect David McGoldrick activated an appearance related clause in the deal that took McGoldrick to St. Mary's as a youngster, after the Saints' top scorer made his 50th league appearance for the club.

Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes has in the past confirmed that this figure is a "six-figure sum", and Notts have been desperate enough to obtain the funds that they were ready to launch a legal bid, but the Football League have confirmed that they will pay Notts the full sum out of money that they are withholding from the Saints.

After the clause was activated in February, Southampton had consistently been unable to pay the Magpies due to their well documented financial problems, which saw their holding company enter administration last month, costing the club a deduction of ten League One points from the new season, after their relegation.

Notts could yet be set for a further windfall from McGoldrick, with the forward's goal tally of twelve Championship striker last season having alerted clubs such as Wolves and Nottingham Forest as to enquire about the Irishman's availability. NCM is not aware whether the Magpies have a sell-on clause on McGoldrick, but it seems likely with the similarities to the Best deal, and also the frequency of sell-on clauses being included in the transfers of young stars moving on from lower league clubs.