Compared to the Summer, this January has been very quiet on the transfer rumours front. Clark and Hoyle had said all along that players would have to go before any came in, and with Jim Goodwin heading to Oldham, Andy Butler going up a division to Blackpool and Matt Glennon being released from his contract, Town fans are now expectant that some players will be coming in. Two positions in the squad that need reinforcing are at the back, with a central and a left-sided defender being top of the wishlist for most Town fans.

One player whose name was banded about at the beginning of the month was Middlesbrough full-back Jonathan Grounds, however these rumours were quickly discarded by Town chairman Dean Hoyle – the funds were simply not available at the time. Read the rest of this entry »

August
Town win 5-0 on the opening day but this is just not enough for some people, with “Clark Out” chants being heard from the away end. Many are surprised by the inclusion of Andy Booth in the starting line-up against Southend due to injuries for Theo Robinson and Robbie Simpson. Rickie Lambert’s move to the Galpharm broke down at the last minute due to freddi99 breaking the clause of silence that he was bound to. However, Booth’s quick-fire hat-trick in the opening ten minutes set Town up for victory. August passes without Town dropping a point or conceding a single goal; even when an injury-hit squad sees Lee Clark pull on the boots and drop into the centre of midfield, earning himself the “Manager’s Man of the Match” award. Stan Ternent’s brand Team Gel flies off the shelves in Boots. Read the rest of this entry »

After another week of rumours, only one more player has been added to the Town squad for next year – Lee Peltier of Yeovil Town. The right-back received the player of the season award at Huish Park last season and is a more than adequate replacement for Andy Holdsworth. Many will see this signing as Town consigning to defeat over bringing Liverpool youngster Martin Kelly back to the Galpharm, however Lee Clark will still be hot on his trail.

Along with the Peltier signing, Theo Robinson of Watford was expected to be announced today, however rumours suggest that a glitch in his medical has delayed the official signing. Robinson will be known to Town fans as the player who missed an open net against us for Southend last season, however during the match in question he showed some real promise and under the right guidance could become an asset to the team. Whether he will be in the starting XI come the first game of the season away at Southend, incidentally, is another matter altogether.

Despite the additions of Robinson, Simpson and Novak, Town fans will still be hoping for that ‘big name striker’ that everyone has accepted is on his way to the club. The three names already signed certainly provide promise, however none have that goalscoring reputation that needs to be injected into the side. The usual names are doing the rounds: Ricky Lambert, David Healy, Kevin Phillips, however who will be signing is anyone’s guess…

Monday 22nd June 2009 will go down as a momentous day in the history of Down At The Mac. Not only has the shop opened – with the Andy Booth t-shirt now on sale! – but Terrier24, a reliable source of transfer rumours suggests that Town are about to pull off a signing that will “be all over the papers”.

The one name on everyone’s lips is Kevin Phillips. It is common knowledge that the Birmingham striker is good friends with Town manager Lee Clark, and rumours about the ex-England ace have been doing the rounds since January. I guess all we can do is just sit and wait…