How Swindon Town also tried a late swoop for Sunderland striker Will Grigg before deadline day

Swindon joined League One rivals MK Dons in attempting to sign Grigg but Sunderland wanted to keep hold of the striker, who has struggled to nail down a first team place this season.

Grigg was an unused substitute as Sunderland ran out 2-0 winners over Swindon Town at the County Ground on Saturday.

Charlie Wyke took his chance to lead the line, earning praise from Phil Parkinson for an ‘excellent’ display.

Parkinson has been rotating his strikers this season, with Charlie Wyke and Danny Graham battling it out for a place up front along with the likes of forwards Aiden O’Brien and Chris Maguire.

On Grigg, Noel Hunt, Swindon Town assistant manager, told BBC Wiltshire: "We tried.

"I spoke to him and we had conversations with his representatives.

"I know Will as a friend, as a player, but we just couldn't come to an agreement.

"I think, from what we were told, the Sunderland chairman and board wouldn't let him go - so therefore there's no point continuing the conversation with the player.

"He's one we mentioned and spoke about. He's coming into the last year of his contract and he wants to play.

"It was a question asked and it was a no, so we have to move on."

At the weekend, Gillingham boss Steve Evans claimed that League One rivals MK Dons made a late attempt to sign Grigg.

Grigg had a hugely successful spell at MK Dons earlier his career, and Russell Martin’s side had been on the search for striking reinforcements after the sale of Rhys Healey earlier this summer.

“It is a tough league, we are trying to compete against some huge clubs with big money and MK Dons are one of them,” Evans told Kent Online.

"MK signed Cameron Jerome and they have been trying to sign Will Grigg [from Sunderland] all week. We are in a different market and we have to go in and some days we will get a lesson like that."

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