MANAGER Chris Turner has confirmed that no official offers have come in for County’s talented young goalkeeper James Spencer.

Spencer, aged 20, was reportedly being tracked by Sunderland and Burnley over the weekend, with a potential transfer fee of £250,000 being touted in more than one national newspaper.

However, boss Turner hasn’t heard anything from any other clubs, and is unsurprisingly desperately keen to hold on to his hot young prospect for as long as possible.

Turner said: “James is one of the top young goalkeepers in the lower leagues so I’m not surprised that there is interest in him.

“Top clubs do watch a number of our younger players, but I can confirm that I haven’t had any offers at this stage.

“There is a shortage of good young goalkeepers around at present, but James has indicated that he wants to stay at County and he has got a year left on his contract.

“I don’t want to be getting into the habit of selling our best players, but on the other hand you’ve got to be realistic and if a big move came up for any young player I wouldn’t stand in their way.

“It is uplifting that clubs are reportedly interested in our players, but for someone like James to leave Stockport County we would need to be well compensated. We won’t let anyone go on the cheap that’s for sure.”

Spencer has previously spent a week on trial at new Premiership outfit Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Turner is delighted with County’s new League Two fixture list, and the opening day home game against Carlton Palmer’s Mansfield Town, as well as the Carling Cup first round draw which handed the Hatters a plum home tie against newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday.

“There will be a lot to play for in the cup game,” said Turner, who is of course a former Wednesday manager and an Owls fan.

“And I can’t complain about the first league game,” he added. “Carlton will be wanting to come back here and prove a point, but I’m just preparing for the full season right now.

“Pre-season training has been very positive, albeit unbearably hot since we returned last Thursday, but the weather might be like that on August 6 so we’ll be prepared for any eventuality.”

AMONG County trialists at pre-season training this week have been former Oldham Athletic midfielder Danny Boshell and Polish-born French utility man Michael Wolski.

Turner has confirmed that French midfielder Amadou Sanokho, who had spells with Burnley and Oldham last term, has snubbed a trial spell with the Hatters.

FORMER Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Matt Hamshaw will let Chris Turner know whether he will be joining County on Monday.

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