Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has refused three offers for striker Craig Mackail-Smith because he is a firm believer in the 'great escape'.

MacAnthony is convinced that under the leadership of Jim Gannon, Posh can still survive in the Coca-Cola Championship and believes that Mackail-Smith can play a part in that survival bid.

Posh have refused offers from Leicester City, Reading and Watford to take the former Dagenham and Redbridge striker on-loan for the rest of the campaign.

Director of Football Barry Fry told theposh.com: 'The chairman believes in the great escape. He believes we have a genuine chance of achieving the impossible and wants to try and keep the players at the football club. We have therefore turned down offers from three Championship clubs to take Craig on loan.'

Fry also revealed that the club had refused an offer from Middlesbrough for skipper George Boyd.