Curtis Tilt deal 'dead' but Blackpool boss wants to sign two before deadline

Ipswich were thought to be close to sealing a loan with a view to the deal becoming permanent in January but talks have stalled ahead of today’s 5pm deadline.

Tilt has been left out of Blackpool’s squad for their last two games but McPhillips hopes to have the defender available for tomorrow’s visit to Walsall.

“It all depends on 5pm on Friday,” McPhillips said. “If he’s still here, then I can only give my opinion that he would be desperate to play at Walsall.

“I know the lad so well. He’s conducted himself brilliantly but obviously the chance to move to a higher league and earn more money at this stage of his career is very exciting for him.

“If it doesn’t happen, he’s a Walsall lad and we’re playing Walsall, so I would expect him to put his name forward.

“He did take a heavy knock in training. That’s a fact because I was there and saw him collide with Chris Taylor.

“He was on the deck for a bit, so we’ll just have to see where we go with Tilty.”

Asked if any other clubs were pursuing Tilt, McPhillips said: “No, not as far as I’ve been told. As far as we’re aware it’s dead now but we’re not stupid – it’s football and anything can happen until 5pm.

“We don’t want to lose anyone else. It will be nervous times for us. If we can keep the squad we’ve got and maybe add another one or two, then I think we’ll be in good fettle.

“I’ve said all along we want to bring in two or three and we brought in Liam Feeney, so if we can bring another two in that would be good.

“We lost 20 players in the summer and with Liam we’ve brought in 14, so if we brought in another couple I think that’s fair enough.”

“I don’t think we have to lose anyone. If we can add another two that will be good.”