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Barnet have been rebuffed in a bid for Gary Hooper, with Cheltenham admitting failure in their chase having been trumped in the contract stakes.
The Bees lodged a 'substantial' bid for the player according to the Ealing Times, under six figures, but have been outbid by at least two six-figure offers from League One sides. Cheltenham were claimed in the press to have the highest bid at £140,000, trumping Stockport's alleged £125,000 offer, but Hooper was waiting to make a decision.
Cheltenham chairman Paul Baker revealed late morning that they were out of the running, despite making a bid worth £175,000: "I have been told by Keith (Downing) that Hooper has gone elsewhere.
"Someone has come in with a fantastic deal, we are not sure how close we were and we are very disappointed but we will now look elsewhere. Southend put a valuation on the player and we matched that so we were not outbid. It's the players decision based on a contract offer."
Stockport are now believed to be the only club in the running with Scunthorpe and the Bulls apparently already outbid for the 20 year old.
