WANDERERS went into extra time tonight to get the final pieces of paperwork submitted on a deal to sign Kyle Dempsey from Gillingham.

The club was finally able to confirm the midfielder’s signature 15 minutes AFTER the deadline after getting the ‘deal sheets’ into the authorities to see the deal through with seconds to spare.

On a day of high drama at the UniBol, Ian Evatt’s last remaining target of the transfer window became available at lunchtime after his club finally appointed Neil Harris to the vacant manager’s position.

That set the wheels in motion for Dempsey to race north for a medical but even as the 11pm deadline struck, there was still some uncertainty on whether the transfer would go through.

As The Bolton News went to press, the club finally managed to press the button and Dempsey is now likely to be paraded in front of the fans before tonight’s game against Cambridge United.

Speaking yesterday morning at his pre-match press conference, Evatt said Dempsey would fit in well with a younger, more dynamic team which has been remodelled in January.

“One thing we have added this month is energy, and you saw that with the intensity we played at on Saturday. It was magnificent and teams find it hard to cope,” he said.

“Kyle would bring us that, assuming it happens, he has energy, good technical ability and an understanding of this level. He is a young player coming into his prime years at 26 and hopefully we see some benefit.”

Dempsey won Gillingham’s player of the year in his first season, scoring eight goals in 44 appearances. His only goal this season actually came against Wanderers, in a 2-2 draw at the UniBol.

Wanderers had already added Dion Charles, Aaron Morley Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kieran Sadlier on a permanent basis, brought James Trafford in on loan from Manchester City, Marlon Fossey from Fulham, and extended the loan of Xav Amaechi from Hamburg.

As midnight approached, Bolton were also expected to confirm the loan departure of striker Nathan Delfouneso to Bradford City.

Young midfielder Ronan Darcy is also due to leave the club on loan, linking up with his former academy team-mate Luca Connell at Scottish side Queen’s Park. The deal may well be announced later in the week.