GRAHAM Alexander has refused to comment on the prospect of Tommy Leigh becoming City’s fourth window signing.
Speculation is mounting that the MK Dons attacking midfielder is poised to be announced as the second new recruit of the week after landing Michael Mellon.
But Alexander declined to discuss Leigh – to avoid the same situation that occurred in last January’s window when Carlisle upset him by talking publicly about their pursuit of Jake Young.
The City boss said: “I know I spoke about George Lapslie just before it was announced but we had signed him and it wasn’t a surprise to the clubs.
“But every other player that isn’t contracted to us now is contracted to somebody else and I wouldn’t want to talk about another club’s player unless something was concrete.
“I think it would be wrong for me to do that. I didn’t like it last year when it happened to us, so I’m not going to be a hypocrite and do the same thing."
Having brought in Mellon on loan from Burnley, Alexander revealed that another striker is not a priority, as it stands, despite Andy Cook's season-ending injury and cutting Olly Sanderson's loan short.
Claims that City are interested in USA international Matthew Hoppe, who has just been released by Middlesbrough, are understood to be completely wide of the mark.
“There are one or two positions where we’re looking to strengthen now but the striker option isn’t one of those," added Alexander.
“We’ve looked at the squad, we’ve changed the shape slightly to 3-4-3 with a single striker and two attacking midfielders next to him. We like the look of that so far.
“We’ve got players in the building that I think it suits. I don’t want to just collect players and not envisage them impacting on the team.
“I think it’s important we try to do that but also keeping in the back of our mind the scenario we were in when we had a lot of injuries. We’ve got to try and avoid that if possible.”
Jamie Walker's contract at City is up at the end of the season (Image: PA)
Jamie Walker’s future at Valley Parade is in the spotlight after he was not involved against Grimsby. But Alexander has not spoken to the Scot about it.
“Jamie’s only missed one squad and I’ve not had a conversation with him since then. He’s been included in every single squad he’s been fit since I’ve been here.
“If people want to talk to me, my door is always open. I’ve never turned away anyone from my office.
“If I feel I have to speak to a player and put him in the picture of a definitive mindset from me, then I will do.
“But if it’s quite open and could go either way, I don’t see the point of having a conversation about nothing. It’s just waffle.
“That’s how I tend to behave but every player knows he can knock on my door and come and have a chat with me anytime.”
