New Cobblers signing Rose delighted to be reunited with Wilder

Danny Rose admits the attraction of working with Chris Wilder again played a major part in him signing for the Cobblers until the end of the season.
SETTLING IN - Danny Rose faces the media on his first day as a Cobblers playerSETTLING IN - Danny Rose faces the media on his first day as a Cobblers player
SETTLING IN - Danny Rose faces the media on his first day as a Cobblers player

The 27-year-old was a surprise signing on transfer deadline day, with Oxford United agreeing to release Rose from his contract and allow him to make the switch to Sixfields.

Town boss Wilder is a big fan of the left-sided central midfielder, admitting to being ‘surprised’ he became available, and it seems the respect is mutual.

“Chris took me to Oxford (signing him from Fleetwood in the summer of 2013) and gave me that opportunity at that time in my career to play games, and I did under him,” said Rose.

“I played a lot of games towards the end of his spell there.

“It is a big pull to play for him, an opportunity to be more involved than I was at Oxford, in a team that is pushing for promotion and trying to be successful, and that is what I want to be.”

Although the deadline day move came out of the blue to supporters and media alike, Rose revealed that it is something has been in the pipeline for a few weeks now.

“The move has been on the cards for a couple of weeks,” said Rose, who began his career as a trainee at Manchester United, before joining Oxford for his first spell at the Kassam Stadium in 2007.

“We were in conversations, and I was to-ing and fro-ing between the clubs, and it was something I wanted to try and get done.

“I haven’t played a lot of football recently, not as much as I would have liked, and the opportunity to come and rejoin Chris, and knowing some of the players as well, it was something I couldn’t turn down.

“It was an opportunity I wanted to take.”

Rose was the Cobblers’ fourth recruit of a successful transfer window, joining James Collins, Lee Martin and Luke Prosser as new names of the squad list.

The former Oxford man knows he faces a battle to get himself into the Cobblers team over the course of the last 19 games of the season, but that’s a challenge he is looking forward to.

“I like to think I will be able to contribute as much as I can in terms of getting the team over the line in terms of promotion,” said Rose.

“I know Chris likes to have a balance in the team, and I am a left-sided central midfield player.

“I know Paul Corry is out for a while and that I fit the bill in that way.

“I am somebody that will give my all whenever needed.”