It is just a matter of time before Bristol Rovers add young defender Liam Scales to their ranks, according to his current boss.
The Gas have been on the verge of signing the 20-year-old Irishman from UCD in his homeland for close to a fortnight, however the Students' manager Colin O'Neill says it's simply bureaucracy that's holding the deal up.
Graham Coughlan has already admitted his interest in Scales, who turned down a move to Manchester City under-23s in favour of first-team football.
It was thought that late interest from Portsmouth and Fleetwood Town might scupper the move, but O'Neill now believes the deal is all but done and Scales is destined for the Mem.
Speaking to extratime.ie, he said: “It’s still caught in paperwork.
“It’s just waiting on contracts to come through, be signed, and the next bit to be done. As far as I’m concerned, he’s left. I think it’s just going to be Bristol Rovers.”
Scales hasn't featured for UCD since July 1 and reportedly flew to Bristol to negotiate a deal on July 4.
The highly-rated defender has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-21 level.
He has made 21 appearances in the League of Ireland this season, scoring once.
Graham Coughlan has previously said of Scales: "He's a player we've looked at, he's a player I like and I'd like to bring to the football club, being able to do that might be different.
"He is a player I like, he is a player I think would fit the profile - he's young, hungry, enthusiastic and a left-footed centre-half that offers a bit of pace and a bit of height, so he's a player that would fit our profile."
