THERE is mounting speculation linking Yeovil Town with Scunthorpe United's out-of-favour striker Paul Hayes (writes Steve Sowden).

Although Hayes has scored his fair share of goals this season, he has found himself relegated to the substitutes bench in recent weeks for the Coca-Cola League Two title contenders.

And on Tuesday night he emerged for the final quarter-of-an-hour during Scunthorpe's 2-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers -- a game which was watched by Yeovil boss Gary Johnson.

But Johnson has denied any possible move for the former Norwich City trainee.

"At this stage of the season I can't divulge who I am chasing and who I am not," he said.

"But obviously I'm looking at players, I always am, and so is every other manager in the Football League.

"This time of year is when you hear about players being handed free moves or players and clubs not accepting or agreeing new contract deals."

Other players being rumoured to have caught the eye of Johnson include Juan Ugarate at Wrexham, who scored a hat-trick for the Welsh club on Tuesday in their 5-3 LDV Vans Trophy success over Oldham, and Mansfield's Colin Larkin.

But it is the possible move by Johnson to swoop for Hayes that seems to have the most substance.

The Scunthorpe Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Hayes had yet to commit his future to the Irons despite manager Brian Laws offering him a new and improved contract.

And the paper quoted Laws as saying: "I'm not aware of any interest and there has been no official contact from Yeovil. Paul Hayes is a player who we very much want to keep."

Another player who could be a target for Yeovil is Cheltenham Town forward Martin Devaney who has rejected an improved offer of a new contract at the Whaddon Road outfit.