EVERTON target Leigh Mills has been handed a 24-hour 'make your mind up' deadline by Andy King but the Town boss is pressing ahead with plans to sign Sean O'Hanlon, whatever the youngster's decision.
A deal had been structured between the two clubs which would see 16-year-old Mills heading for Goodison Park with O'Hanlon signing a permanent deal at the County Ground.
Town would also receive an initial £150,000 for Mills with further payments to follow.
However, Town have always maintained that they would try and acquire the Goodison defender, whatever Mills' answer.
King spoke to O'Hanlon yesterday with the player stressing his desire to remain in Wiltshire on a permanent basis.
All that remains is for the County Ground boss to reach an agreement with his Everton counterpart.
He said: "I'll be dealing with that immediately. It's now just a matter of asking David Moyes if there is a situation which can be resolved without Mills being involved.
"As for Mills, the decision is with him. He has until the weekend to make that decision. If he doesn't then I'll take it out of his hands.
"We've been fair. I think two weeks is long enough so I've given the boy a 24-hour deadline."
King is adamant that there is no question of Mills looking at alternatives.
He said: "David Pleat phoned me yesterday and wanted the boy to go for a week's training.
"I've said no. He's not going anywhere to train. We have a confirmed offer in from a Premiership club which has been accepted.
"If he doesn't want to go there, he goes nowhere until another firm offer comes in."
As for the small matter of tomorrow's promotion clash at Plymouth Argyle, King is likely to be forced into at least one change.
Stefani Miglioranzi is fighting a losing battle to shake off an ankle sprain.
King said: "Twenty four hours is a long time in football but the fact is that Stef hasn't trained this week. He's struggling."
Options for King include pushing Andy Gurney into midfield with Alan Reeves moving alongside Matt Heywood or slotting David David into the gap vacated by the injured New Yorker.
King said: "I don't know which way I'm going to go yet.
"All I know is that I'm going there if not cautious, then respectful."
Meanwhile, King is far from happy that midfielder Sammy Igoe is facing an improper conduct rap from the Football Association after remarks he made following January's 2-2 draw at Blackpool.
King feels the reaction to what he viewed as a 'throwaway comment' has spiralled out of control.
He said: "It's gone too far but the rules are there and the boy may have to face the consequences."
Igoe himself added: "I have to decide what to do today as the deadline for a response is on Monday.''
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