Ex-Man Utd star explains what it's like to join Red Devils on deadline day

It's not uncommon for Manchester United to snap up a promising youngster from a rival club, although they rarely make their move on deadline day.

Seven years ago, the Red Devils did just that when they signed Andy Kellett on loan from Bolton Wanderers. It was a transfer that stunned supporters.

Then 21, Kellett had made just four Championship appearances for Bolton and spent the last three months on loan at League Two side Plymouth Argyle.

The midfielder, who can also play at left-back, was expected to spend the rest of the 2014-15 campaign in Devon and travelled to his parent club to complete the deal.

On that journey, however, he received a phone call from his agent telling him not to sign for Plymouth. All would be revealed when he arrived at Bolton.

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"When I got in there, the manager - Neil Lennon at the time - said, 'There's an opportunity to go to Man Utd, if you want,'" Kellett exclusively told Mirror Football on deadline day.

"I didn't think it was a joke, but it was a shock to me. Obviously when he told me I was buzzing."

The move materialised when Lennon, who was in charge of Bolton between 2014 and 2016, spoke to United's youth-team coach Warren Joyce about signing winger Saidy Janko.

Joyce was happy to let Janko join the Championship side in return for Kellett's services, allowing United to take a closer look at a player they admired.

"He [Lennon] had been speaking to him [Joyce] for a couple of weeks about it, so I don't think it was an instant thing for them, but it was definitely for me on the night.

"I didn't actually know how Warren knew me. I played against his teams, he did quite a lot of age groups at Man Utd. I was played against his teams at U16, U18 and then U21 level.

"When I signed, he told me he'd always liked me and obviously when there was an opportunity for me to go, he was able to have a proper look at me."

Transfer deadline day is viewed as one of the most chaotic in the football calendar, with some players - including Kellett - not knowing their fate until the very last hour.

"I remember having to rush over from Chorley to Carrington. I was actually still at Carrington when the deadline closed, it was probably 10:30pm or maybe 11pm.

"Everything was just thrown on to me at the last minute, but they're the most exciting!"

On handling the drama, Kellett added: "Obviously going to Man Utd was massive for me, but the chaos of that day didn't really bother me. I was more excited than anything.

"As the day was building up, I always thought I was going back to Plymouth, so it was kind of just the last half an hour of the day that was chaotic.

"To be fair, I was quite chilled about it. When I first got told, though, I was quite emotional. It was an opportunity that not a lot of people get.

"Apart from that little bit at the end, the day was quite quiet!"

Kellett didn't receive a permanent deal, but his time at Old Trafford was still a success - playing an instrumental part in the team's Premier League 2 title triumph.

The Englishman looks back fondly on his six-month spell with United, believing it gave him the belief to play some of his best football.

"I'm not a United fan, but there's just something about wearing the United kit and playing the games that gives you a lot more confidence.

"I don't know if that's because one of the biggest clubs wanted to have a look at me or it's the fact that I was wearing the kit and being part of the club."

Injuries have restricted Kellett's progress since his departure, representing Wigan Athletic, Chesterfield, Notts County and Fylde before joining non-league Guiseley in 2020.

The West Yorkshire outfit have remained loyal to the now 28-year-old during the pandemic and he's hoping to repay their faith by firing them to success in the near future.

"For whatever reason I've dropped down, probably due to injury... I've not played consecutively for a number of years now.

"But I'm at Guiseley now and really enjoying it. They've got a great set of people there - staff and players.

"I've always got a vision of trying to get back as high as a can, but the main thing for me is just keeping fit every week.

"It's different at non-league, the budgets are smaller and they depend on the supporters.

"I'm just grateful to the management and staff for being patient with me because I know it's probably just as frustrating for them as it is for me."

Guiseley are currently 19th in the National League North, just three points ahead of bottom club Farsley Celtic. Kellett, however, is confident they can survive the drop.

"It's going to be tough, but we're playing well and it's just the results [letting us down at the moment].

"I know football is a results business, but we just need to build some momentum and a bit of confidence... we should be fine."