Connor in on trial

Last updated : 07 July 2009 By Gary Hutchinson

City have taken former Rochdale and Swansea front man Paul Connor on trial with a view to a permanent move should he impress.

30 year old Connor has played for several League clubs after starting out at Middlesborough. However after being released by Boro he joined Stoke City whom he'd previously played for on loan.

Whilst at Stoke he went on loan to Cambridge where he scored 5 goals in 14 games. However he left Stoke for £150,000 for Rochdale. He was an immediate success taking Rochdale to the brink of the play-offs with his goals before an unfortunately-timed injury.  Unfortunately the injury meant he was only a bit part player the following season when they did make the play offs, but he still average a goal every three games in his 90 appearances for Rochdale.

With the end of his contract looming Connor was sold just before transfer deadline day in March 2004 for £35,000 to Swansea. The move was immensely unpopular with Rochdale fans..

Connor becme the second top goal scorer for the club in the 2004-05 season with 12 finishes in 44 appearances. However by January 2006, he had fallen down the pecking order at Swansea and so he signed for Leyton Orient in a  £40,000 deal. He made 34 appearances, scoring 7 goals.

In January 2007 he signed for Chelteham Town for £20,000, and has been at Whaddon Road until he release this summer.

With the move for Connor there is a suggestion that it may spell the end of the deal for Rene Howe. Barry Fry has tagged £150,000 on Howe's head and a purchase at that price would appear to be a non starter.