Shrewsbury Town have failed in a £100,000 January transfer window bid to sign Barnet striker John O’Flynn.

Town were prepared to make the 27-year-old Irishman the second most expensive signing in their history – along with John Dungworth and Mark Blake and behind only Grant Holt.

A fee had been agreed with Barnet while personal terms had also been successfully negotiated with O’Flynn when he visited the Prostar Stadium a fortnight ago.

But the forward, who has scored 28 goals in 61 starts and five substitute appearances since arriving at Underhill in the summer of 2008, elected to wait until he is a free agent in the summer before deciding his next career move.

“The interest in John O’Flynn has been on-going for ages,” revealed Town boss Simpson.

“I initially wanted him to partner Grant Holt, and we then enquired last summer and at the start of this transfer window and the discussions have been on-going.

“We agreed a deal for him and we then showed him around the weekend the Barnet game should have taken place and he was impressed.

“But he then decided he wants to see what interest there is when he is a Bosman in the summer when his Barnet contract expires.

“He wants to play in League One or the Championship and we can’t guarantee that at the moment.”

Simpson confirmed that the possibility of Nathan Elder forming part of the deal – before his move to AFC Wimbledon – had been discussed earlier in the window.

And, when it was clear a permanent deal wasn’t going to be concluded, Barnet rejected Shrewsbury attempts to force through a loan deal for the remainder of the season.

It means Town’s sole arrival in the January window has been Huddersfield left-back Joe Skarz, but Simpson revealed numerous attempts had been made to bolster his squad further.

“It has been frustrating and it hasn’t been for the want of trying,” he added.

“The chairman has been prepared to back me, which is fantastic, and we have spent the whole month trying to do different things.

“It hasn’t happened but the loan window opens next week and we will keep trying then.”

• Former Town striker Omer Riza, released by Shrewsbury during January, has linked up with League Two rivals Aldershot for a trial.

By JAMES GARRISON