Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ June 19 2006,11:54)]OK, here's the main news so far this close season:
*We've signed Simon Francis from Sheffield United - a real coup, he's a superb right back and can play across the defence & midfield. He's signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
* We've signed Steve Collis from Yeovil - a 6'4" keeper who provides proper compeition for Darryl. Collis is a really good young keeper, signed on a two-year deal - another great signing.
* We've signed a two-year shirt-sponsorship deal with Insure & Go, said to be the biggest in the club's history.
* We've signed a two-year shirt-back sponsorship deal with Haart, the Estate Agents.
* We're waiting for lots of current players to sign new deals with the club. Only Gower, Jay Smith and Flahavan, of the close-season re-signings, have put pen to paper (Barrett having done it before the end of the season), which means we're waiting for all of the following to extend their deals:
- Freddy
- Super Kev
- Wayne Gray (who rejected his initial deal)
- Spinner...? (not sure about whether he's still to sign or not)
- Bradders (definitely offered two years - but has he taken it up?)
The rest are already on deals, I think (Lewis, Che, Gutts, Mitch, JCR, Efe, Peanut)
* Definitely out of the door are Bart & The Goat, who retired; and Petts & the Eagle, who have been released. Notts County have been linked with Petts; the Eagle is (presumably) staying with Grays - who, incidentally, lost Stimmo - who has gone to be the manager at Stevenage.
And, on the managerial merry-go-round:
- Phil Parkinson has resigned from the Ewes and is favourite for the Hull job
- Peter Taylor has left Hull for Palace
- Ian Dowie left Palace for Charlton
- Paul Simpson has left Carlisle for Preston
- Billy Davies has left Preston for Derby
- Joe Royle left Ipswich who replaced him with Jim Magilton
- Gareth Southgate replaced Steve McLaren at Middlesbrough
- Keith Alexander left Lincoln for Peterborough
- and, in local non-league, Jeff King pulled out of Canvey completely. Canvey have elected to drop down three divisions to Ryman Division 1 North, whilst Jeff has taken over at Chelmsford City in the Ryman Premier. Expect the Clarets to make waves next season...
...and that's about it.
We haven't signed anyone else. The rumour mill has linked us, tentatively, to Yeovil's Matt Harold and Coventry's Andy Morrell in the strikers department... but the club has been much more adept at playing its cards close to its chest this close season - the rumour mill did not predict the arrival of either Francis or Collis.
And that's the round-up of news in your absence!
