A dramatic late hitch prevented Colin Hendry becoming a Coventry City player today.

The Glasgow Rangers centre back flew down from Scotland and Coventry announced a 4pm media conference to parade the new man, and another, mystery signing, believed to be one of the two Peruvians Zuniga or Zevallos.

But the Scot’s shuttle flight was delayed and then diverted away from its scheduled destination Birmingham to East Midlands Airport in Derbyshire.

The passengers were taken by coach to Birmingham Airport where Coventry City’s club car was waiting to whisk Hendry to the club’s training camp.

But the delay meant there was not enough time for Hendry to complete his medical examination before the scheduled 4pm media conference.

The club immediately postponed the conference for 24 hours so Hendry and the Peruvian have to wait for the big moment.

Neither will figure in Saturday’s home match against Tottenham Hotspur even if they have completed their transfers. Coventry’s manager Gordon Strachan, despite battling against injuries to eight first team players, says they will be given time to acclimatise to their new surroundings.

In Hendry’s case, he has not played much because of a knee injury, and will need reserve games to regain his match fitness.

Manager Gordon Strachan meanwhile was again surveying the ruins of his first team squad. He has nine first team players on the casualty list and said that three of those left were still feeling the effects of injuries but might have to play anyway.