FC Boro

Pre-Season starts in just 3 days time as Boro travel to Chemsford on Wednesday night. It’s a less high profile start to pre-season after last years visit to Gillingham. The Stevenage players and staff have been back in training for about 2 weeks now and should be at a good fitness level going into the first game. Graham Westley said a couple weeks ago at the SA AGM that the squad was complete and only 1 player looks likely in leaving any time soon. Eddie Odhiambo remains on the transfer list, but has pre-season now to prove himself to the boss.

Away from the club and elsewhere in the BSP, Kettering have strengthened their squad again with the signing of ex Cheltenham striker Damien Spencer. I don’t know much about him, but he is good on Football Manager if that’s anything to go by. However, it’s not all good news for the Poppies as influentual defender and one time Boro target Guy Branston is leaving to join newly promoted Torquay United. Kettering have agreed a fee with the Gulls and Branston is expected to complete the move early next week. York City’s promising young striker Adam Boyes has joined Championship side Scunthorpe.

It now appears that Daryl McMahon will not be signing for Cambridge next season. U’s chairman George Rolls has told Cambridge Sports News that the club can’t afford to to sign the Irishman even though boss Gary Brabin wishes to.

“I know the manager spoke about Daryl after the Ely game, but there’s not the money to offer him a contract, so, however well he does in pre-season training for us, we won’t be signing him.” Rolls on signing McMahon

Cambridge have also missed out on re-signing defender Phil Bolland who has opted to join Barrow instead of staying with the U’s. Gary Brabin is also trying to make funds available by transfer listing Jon Challinor and Courtney Pitt, two players he should of never signed last season, with the wages they’d be on. I doubt Cambridge will be able to sell the two players for any fee and considering that the two ex league players are high earners then attracting any offer would be quite an acheivement, especially as the Setanta cuts begin to hit the BSP.

Lastly Graham Westley has made his top five choices for the BSP last season in the NLP. You can see the article here. Funnily enough there seems to be a little dig at Brabin in there. Worth a read.