BARROW AFC have confirmed they have made an approach to appoint Grant Holt as player/coach.

A deal is expected to be done late next week, when the seven-day notice period put in by Barrow on Thursday runs out.

The former Bluebird was linked with a move back to Holker Street after Kings Lynn, for whom he has been playing for the last month, announced his departure on Saturday.

The striker did not play for the Linnets in their Evo-Stik South clash with Chesham United.

That raised eyebrows among media and spectators, and the Norfolk club issued a statement immediately after the 1-0 win for Chesham that Holt had left the club to join Barrow as player/coach under new boss Ady Pennock, with a deal done.

Barrow denied the latter was the case, but later issued a statement saying: “Barrow AFC can confirm that we approached Kings Lynn Town regarding the availability of Grant Holt.

“Conversations have taken place between our manager Ady Pennock and the Kings Lynn management team, as well as at board room level.

However, no terms have been agreed and no deal has been signed for him to join us.

“We look forward to speaking to Grant at the end of the mandatory notice period.”

Speaking to the media after Kings Lynn’s 1-0 defeat to Chesham, Linnets chairman Stephen Cleeve said that rather than a deal being done, AFC had put seven days notice in on Holt on Thursday.

A deal is therefore expected at the end next week, which would tie in with the previous timescale set by AFC for announcing new members of the coaching staff.

Barrow AFC managing director Andrew Casson had earlier denied any deal had done for the 36-year-old, who spent two years at Holker Street between 2001 and 2003.

Speaking to the press after Kings Lynn’s game with Chesham, Cleeve criticised the Bluebirds for their dealing with regards to Holt.

He said: “I was obviously a little bit surprised, because we thought we’d done a deal for the season for him, but when players are not on contract, of course, these things happen.

“He’s decided he wants to go there. They’ve offered him more money. They’ve offered him a longer-term deal and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I think Barrow haven’t behaved in the right way. Normally clubs do the right thing. I don’t think Barrow have done the right thing. But I wish Grant well. I don’t want to stand in his way.”

Holt scored 35 goals in 69 league appearances for Barrow in two spells between 2001 and 2003, the first on loan from Carlisle and the second a permanent deal, before joining Rochdale.

He was linked with the Barrow job after Paul Cox’s departure earlier in the season, before Micky Moore was appointed for his ill-fated reign, and is thought to have held talks with club officials.

The Cumbrian subsequently joined Kings Lynn, who put out the following statement following their defeat to Chesham: “It’s just been confirmed by King’s Lynn Town chairman Stephen Cleeve following this afternoon’s 1-0 defeat to Chesham United that Grant Holt has departed the football club to join Barrow as player/coach.

“Cleeve said: “We had a phone call from Barrow on Monday to say that Grant’s agent had done a deal with Barrow as a player coach, I’m upset to see Grant leave the football club, I’m shocked more than anything at the moment as I’m yet to speak to him.

“I wanted Grant to stay at the football club, I’m deeply upset, It’s a blow to the town and the football club.”