"Jog on" - Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway issues blunt Harry Smith transfer stance after 6-figure bid | OneFootball

Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway had a blunt message for those trying to prise striker Harry Smith from the club after their win at Oldham yesterday.

Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway has warned Danish outfit AC Horsens off star striker Harry Smith after they submitted a six-figure bid for his services.

The Robins have had a mixed start to the new season, bouncing back from a 2-1 defeat at Walsall on the opening weekend with consecutive wins against Cambridge United and Oldham Athletic.

But although the new season has started, the transfer window doesn't close until the end of the month, and this means that there remains a risk that clubs could lose some of their more valuable assets to other clubs.

Ian Holloway quashes rumours of Harry Smith leaving Swindon Town for Denmark

One of those players is Smith, who found the back of the net 15 times in League Two action for Town last season, and he has been the subject of transfer offers from Danish second tier side AC Horsens, with the latest being in the region of £300,000, as per the Swindon Advertiser.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire after Swindon's 2-1 win at Oldham Athletic on Saturday afternoon, Holloway had a very clear message indeed regarding Smith's future

"Who cares?" Holloway bluntly stated.

"I made it totally clear that Harry is not going anywhere. And for all our supporters, whatever you think about Harry, I'd prefer you to keep it to yourselves. What do you know, with the greatest of respects?

"I just need these wonderful people in Denmark to understand he's not for sale and he doesn't want to go to you anyway. It's dead in the water. That is not happening."

"How am I going to replace somebody who can also go back into a centre-half position, head it out, and get you three points?

"I'm not being funny, we've had a good chat about this, me and the chairman (Clem Morfuni), and I thank him for saying no, because the amount of money that they're offering won't keep us ticking over for more than two months. What good's that? What good's that? I'm after promotion. That's what I want.

"And I think if Harry stays, how much more choice would he have, plus us, who might be able to give him a First Division (League One) wage, and then might be able to give him a Championship wage, if he likes how I'm managing him and he believes in what I'm trying to bring him.

"So all these other people, with the greatest of respect to them, they haven't spoken to me, and I would tell them the very same thing - jog on, he ain't for sale."

Swindon Town may have no choice but to accept Harry Smith deal if Horsens return

At 30 years of age, Harry Smith has a wealth of experience in the lower divisions of the EFL going back almost a decade. He joined Swindon in the summer 2024 transfer window after rejecting a new offer from his former club Sutton United, and scored 15 goals in League Two for them last season.

Ian Holloway's comments touch upon the nature of 'value' in the transfer market. The money being offered for Smith, which is £300,000, would offer a financial return for the club on a player that they picked up for nothing last year, but evidently it's not enough for Holloway and co to consider.

Should the money offered go higher though, then there could be a decision to be made by Clem Morfuni - Smith is a good League Two striker, but business is business at the end of the day.