NORTH End bosses have strenuously denied rumours that striker Kurt Nogan is to move to arch-rivals Blackpool on loan.

Manager David Moyes and chairman Bryan Gray rubbished the story after a call-line, advertised on Teletext, was subtitled: "Nogan to Blackpool?"

The rumours come at a time when Nogan is facing increased opposition for a place in the first team from the likes of Alex Mathie, Bjarki Gunlaugsson and Steve Basham.

But a spokesman for North End blasted the story. He said: "The reports are completely false. We have no intention of selling Kurt or any player here."

The move, however, is not as far-fetched as it seems.

Blackpool can afford the wages that Nogan demands, helping North End reduce the club's escalating wage bill due to the arrival of new signings.

And if Nogan could start scoring regularly for a team while on loan, the Welsh FA would surely take notice of him again, as they did last season.

Their interest in making him an international seems to have cooled since he has been sidelined so often this season and a successful spell at Blackpool could see him back in favour.

The North End spokesman still insisted that the rumours were unfounded though, adding: "We do not need to get rid of anyone. Let's not forget that we only actually have three strikers who are our own players."

Blackpool manager Nigel Worthington is still searching for a striker after the Department of Employment refused to grant a work permit for Estonian Ace Indrek Zelinski.

Carol Banks, Company Secretary at BFC, said: "Nigel has not discussed this with me. As far as I know, it is all unconfirmed at the moment."

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