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…

After the signing of Antony Kay this week, Town fans will be expecting more of the same from Lee Clark as there still remain a few gaps in the team that need filling. The current squad is lacking heavily in firepower and the young manager will surely be looking at bringing in two strikers to compete with Lee Novak for a place. It was this lack of presence up front that cost Town a play-off place last season, with Keigan Parker and Phil Jevons unable to find the form that they had shown at their previous clubs. This being said, the only rumours with any substance to them are suggesting that Danny Graham (who has just rejected a contract at Carlisle) and Robbie Simpson (currently of Coventry City) may be joining Town in the near future. One forum member claims that he has spoken to Simpson himself and that it is just a matter of geography that is putting seeds of doubt in the mind of the young striker.

Clark will also be looking to bolster his defense after Martin Kelly’s return to Liverpool. Whether the young defender will be coming back to Town on a season-long loan, as Lee Clark has suggested, remains in the balance. Rumours are circulating that Southend defender Peter Clarke will be joining the Terriers sooner rather than later, and that it is just a matter of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. Town fans will be expecting at least one right-back to come into the squad after contract talks with Andy Holdsworth broke down and an agreement couldn’t be reached.

Andy_Hudd is facing the sack after a recent poll conducted by Down At The Mac faithful ‘wr’, who suspiciously has an email address containing the words “ctid” which are commonly thought to stand for City Till I Die. The news that Huddersfield have changed their name to City rather than Town is something that has slipped under the radar of The Rumour Mill, however going by this poster’s past record, it seems that it has been an error on our part and nothing else.

At the time of writing, Andy has a majority 25.6% of the votes (10/39), with TomTheTerrier sitting in second place with 17.9%. The removal of Andy will come as welcome relief to as many as three posters, however those who were to afraid to use their vote for fear of being purged by the fascist administrators will surely be regretting that decision now.

One suggestion has already been proposed that an Admin Factor competition should be held where one true all-powerful administrator will prevail after a series of displays of talent, nerve and ability to appease posters when a matter such as this arises. Possible judges for the competition involve ex-Town players like Jon Newby, Fola Onibuje and Ken Monkou.

Punters have already been offering odds on betting exchange Betfair, with Andy_Hudd favourite to go out in the first round. The best odds you can currently get on that outcome are 1/20, with the next-favourite TomTheTerrier being all the way out at 7/1.

Our good friends over at Vital Football have reported that Antony Kay is expected to sign for Town very shortly, either later today or tomorrow.

It was no secret that the ex-Barnsley defender was on Lee Clark’s radar, and despite beng offered a new deal at Tranmere, the signs are pointing towards a move to the Galpharm.

With about 6 weeks to go before the hallowed transfer window opens (1st July), the rumours have already started circulating as Town fans expect a busy Summer of ins and outs from the club. The need for a striker has never been greater at the club, especially with the retirement of Andy Booth and release of Danny Cadamarteri. Phil Jevons and Keigan Parker have not found form this season, which leaves Town with not one effective centre forward in the squad. Lee Clark has surely identified this as number one priority for signings, and the usual names such as Kevin Phillips, Jon Stead and Danny Graham have already started doing the rounds.

Another position that Clark will be hoping to fill is in a defensive role. Nathan Clarke and Andy Butler have been strong this season, but the team needs strength in depth if they are to mount that elusive promotion push that they are capable of. Lee Clark has already expressed his desire to bring Liverpool defender Martin Kelly back to the club, after the promising youngster impressed in both full-back positions during his loan spell. One name in the hat is Antony Kay, who is meant to have turned down a new deal at Tranmere and is on his way to the Galpharm. Kay is primarily a centre-back, but can also play in the hole just ahead of the defence so would fit the bill perfectly.

Either way, Town fans are not expecting a huge influx of players as the squad is only five or six good players away from being one of the best in the division. I, for one, have complete faith that Lee Clark can get his men and the whole team can hit the ground running come the beginning of August.