Sodje slips through the net

Despite being offered a new contract at Darlington, Akpo Sodje – the Quakers' top-scorers last term – had opted to move away from The Williamson Motors stadium after his current deal expired in the north-east.

With Gudjon Thordarson particularly keen to add a sharp-shooting striker to his ranks, Sodje was invited for talks at the ‘Lane last week with his girlfriend and advisors where a verbal deal was agreed between the two parties, with a view to the Nigerian becoming Gudjon's first summer signing this week.

However, after Akpo – brother to Brentford's Sam and former County target Efe – received a call from League One Port Vale over the weekend, the striker backed out of the agreement with a ‘frustrated' Thordarson, who admits he feels hugely let down by this latest turn of events.

“I am upset over the Sodje situation because he came in last week with his girlfriend and two agents, agreed a deal and shook hands,” said Thordarson, speaking to the club's official web-site earlier today.

"He has now pulled out. He was going back up to Darlington to sort things out, but now the agreement has been broken and it is very frustrating.

"We've been after a number of targets. There is a lot of work behind the scenes and I am sure we will be seeing players signing in the near future.”

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