Posh shun deadline bids

Fry: Rejected offers

Peterborough United turned down 'substantial' offers for two of their key players on Monday, as the transfer window drew to a close.

Offers were made by unnamed clubs for both creative midfielder George Boyd and striker Craig Mackail-Smith, with the Championship's bottom club opting to hold on to their prized assets.

The two players have been influential in the club's meteoric rise from League Two to the Championship in successive seasons, with Boyd notching

12 goals from midfield this season.

Director of Football Barry Fry has told skysports.com that it was an easy decision to make considering how much of an impact their departures would have had on their chances of avoiding the drop this season.

"We didn't receive any offers for Joe Lewis, but we did turn down substantial offers for both Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd," Fry confirmed.

"We are delighted to keep them here because they are both key players for us and we don't want to lose important players if we are going to make a real fist of staying up this season."

One player who did depart was promising midfielder Paul Coutts, who followed Darren Ferguson to Preston and Fry believes that both clubs will benefit if Coutts fulfills his bright future.

"It was a great deal for the club, but Paul made it perfectly clear that he wanted to rejoin Darren at Preston, so I sorted a deal out with Derek (Shaw) to make that possible," he said.

"If he progresses like I think he will do for both Preston and Scotland then we will reap rewards for it as well.

"The boy hasn't got a great amount of experience, but both myself and Darren believe that he has got a fantastic future ahead of him. We are happy with the deal and good luck to the lad."