After the departures of a number of key first teamers, Yeovil Town boss Terry Skiverton looked to have a serious job on his hands building a side ahead of the new season.
Leading scorer Dean Bowditch headed to MK Dons, Andy Welsh returned to his native north to join Carlisle United, left back Nathan Smith was snapped up by Chesterfield and long serving right back and club skipper Craig Alcock moved up to the Championship after signing for Darren Ferguson's Peterborough United.
Add to this list Adam Virgo and Alex Russell who left for Bristol Rovers and Bath City respectively and with loanees Shaun MacDonald, Jon Obika, Max Ehmer and Stephen Henderson returning to their parent clubs, the Glovers' squad was looking decidely threadbare.
However, Terry Skiverton, who has battled against the odds on many occasions as Yeovil Town manager, did not shirk the challenge of building an almost brand new team from scratch.
In came returning midfielder Gavin Williams for a fourth spell at Huish Park. He first arrived in Somerset from Hereford United in 2001 and he left in 2004 to join West Ham United. Spells at Ipswich Town and Bristol City followed before he returned to Huish Park for two loan spells in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns.
He also found the target against Yeovil last season for Bristol Rovers and Skiverton acted quickly to snap up his former teammate following his release from the Memorial Stadium.
Next in was young striker Kieran Agard as part of the world's first football 'twansfer' after Skiverton asked Glovers' followers to recommend potential new recruits via the social networking site Twitter. Agard's name was one of those mentioned and he was soon on board.
Young midfielder Anthony Edgar, who is also the cousin of Spurs and England striker Jermaine Defoe, was the next to sign, joining from West Ham United. He was later joined by Dominic Blizzard, who agreed a deal after a succesful trial spell.
Bondz N'gala arrived on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle and German defender Max Ehmer returned from QPR for a second loan stint to increase Skiverton's defensive options.
They were joined this week by Curtis Haynes-Brown, a left sided defender who was previously with non-league side Lowestoft Town and striker Steven MacLean who was released by Plymouth Argyle in the summer.
MacLean will be looking to get his career back on track after three unsuccessful seasons with the Pilgrims, which saw him loaned out to Aberdeen and Oxford United.
Earlier in his career, he had scored 25 goals in 52 appearances for Scunthorpe United and 35 goals in 90 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and Glovers' fans will be hoping he can replicate those goal scoring figures at Huish Park.
Skiverton is currently looking at Norwich City's England Under-19 keeper Jed Steer with a possible loan deal in mind.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Sunday, 24 July 2011
ATIENO SIGNS FOR GULLS
Torquay United have agreed a one-year deal with striker Taiwo Atieno following a successful trial spell at Plainmoor.
Kenya international Atieno, 25, who started his career with Walsall, was on target for the Gulls in their pre-season friendly matches with Tiverton Town and Bristol City.
His permanent arrival now increases Martin Ling's attacking options to five with a roster that also features Rene Howe, Billy Kee, Ashley Yeoman and Ray Spear.
Kenya international Atieno, 25, who started his career with Walsall, was on target for the Gulls in their pre-season friendly matches with Tiverton Town and Bristol City.
His permanent arrival now increases Martin Ling's attacking options to five with a roster that also features Rene Howe, Billy Kee, Ashley Yeoman and Ray Spear.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
LE TESTIMONIAL CE SOIR
This evening, Plymouth Argyle take on Queens Park Rangers in Romain Larrieu's Testimonial at Home Park.
Le Keeper has been with the Pilgrims for ten years and during this time, he has played a key role in Argyle's rise from the depths of Division Three to the Championship.
Romain won Division Three and Division Two winners' medals in the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons respectively and set a club record of 27 clean sheets during the 2001-02 campaign.
He also won the club's Player of the Year award in the 2008-09 season and now, in the 2011-12 campaign, he will be looking to help the Pilgrims climb out of the Football League's basement tier following the financial turmoil that saw the club enter Administration last March, which resulted in a ten-point deduction that saw Argyle relegated from League One.
Tonight's opponents, Queens Park Rangers, are managed by former Argyle boss Neil Warnock and their side is likely to feature two of Romain's former teammates in the form of Hungarian midfielder Akos Buszaky and Scotland striker Jamie Mackie.
In other news, current Pilgrims boss Peter Reid has agreed deals with trialists Luke Daley, a winger who was previously with Norwich City, and French defender Ladji Soukouna. He has also agreed a loan deal for Blackburn Rovers striker Tom Hitchcock and has secured the services of Stephane Zubar on a two-year contract.
Le Keeper has been with the Pilgrims for ten years and during this time, he has played a key role in Argyle's rise from the depths of Division Three to the Championship.
Romain won Division Three and Division Two winners' medals in the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons respectively and set a club record of 27 clean sheets during the 2001-02 campaign.
He also won the club's Player of the Year award in the 2008-09 season and now, in the 2011-12 campaign, he will be looking to help the Pilgrims climb out of the Football League's basement tier following the financial turmoil that saw the club enter Administration last March, which resulted in a ten-point deduction that saw Argyle relegated from League One.
Tonight's opponents, Queens Park Rangers, are managed by former Argyle boss Neil Warnock and their side is likely to feature two of Romain's former teammates in the form of Hungarian midfielder Akos Buszaky and Scotland striker Jamie Mackie.
In other news, current Pilgrims boss Peter Reid has agreed deals with trialists Luke Daley, a winger who was previously with Norwich City, and French defender Ladji Soukouna. He has also agreed a loan deal for Blackburn Rovers striker Tom Hitchcock and has secured the services of Stephane Zubar on a two-year contract.
Monday, 18 July 2011
LING FINDS FINAL PIECE IN JIGSAW
Torquay United boss Martin Ling has moved quickly to secure the signature of Irish midfielder Ian Morris who was let go by Scunthorpe United during the close season.
Morris, who has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-19 and Under-21 level, had been on trial at the Gulls' League Two rivals Hereford United.
As a left footed player, he is the final piece in Ling's jigsaw as he approaches the start of the 2011-2012 campaign.
"He is the missing piece of the jigsaw that I've been talking about all the way through," said Ling. "He's a left-footed player who is happy playing out wide.
"We've got good wide players here but we do need a left-sided player, and Ian is very comfortable out wide. He can play in the middle as well but has played most his career out wide.
"He has got Championship games behind him and has good pedigree. In previous times, Ian wouldn't be dropping down to League 2 because there would be clubs out there for him.
"In the current climate, he has dropped down to find his home and I'm very pleased. When I saw his name on the available list, I was immediately hoping we had enough money to do the deal."
Ling also believes that Ian will fit in well with the environment that he is aiming to develop at Plainmoor.
"We have a group of players at the training ground that want to learn, want to be successful and want to work hard. Ian will not disrupt that approach and that's important.
"We've had to act quickly because he's been on trial with Hereford, and scored two goals as well, so we're very happy."
After starting his career with Leeds United, Ian joined Scunthorpe United in 2006 and he made 92 appearances for Scunny in all competitions and scored eight goals.
He has also enjoyed loan spells with Blackpool, Carlisle United and Chesterfield where he featured in their League Two title winning side last season.
Morris, who has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-19 and Under-21 level, had been on trial at the Gulls' League Two rivals Hereford United.
As a left footed player, he is the final piece in Ling's jigsaw as he approaches the start of the 2011-2012 campaign.
"He is the missing piece of the jigsaw that I've been talking about all the way through," said Ling. "He's a left-footed player who is happy playing out wide.
"We've got good wide players here but we do need a left-sided player, and Ian is very comfortable out wide. He can play in the middle as well but has played most his career out wide.
"He has got Championship games behind him and has good pedigree. In previous times, Ian wouldn't be dropping down to League 2 because there would be clubs out there for him.
"In the current climate, he has dropped down to find his home and I'm very pleased. When I saw his name on the available list, I was immediately hoping we had enough money to do the deal."
Ling also believes that Ian will fit in well with the environment that he is aiming to develop at Plainmoor.
"We have a group of players at the training ground that want to learn, want to be successful and want to work hard. Ian will not disrupt that approach and that's important.
"We've had to act quickly because he's been on trial with Hereford, and scored two goals as well, so we're very happy."
After starting his career with Leeds United, Ian joined Scunthorpe United in 2006 and he made 92 appearances for Scunny in all competitions and scored eight goals.
He has also enjoyed loan spells with Blackpool, Carlisle United and Chesterfield where he featured in their League Two title winning side last season.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
RORY RETURNS HOME
The number of players leaving Plymouth Argyle this summer has grown following the announcement that Northern Ireland striker Rory Patterson will be returning to his native country to sign for Linfield.
Patterson, who has been capped five times by the province, is joining the Northern Irish champions on a season-long loan deal and with a year to run on his current deal at Home Park, it seems likely that he has played his last game for the Pilgrims.
His departure follows the sales of Yala Bolasie and Joe Mason to Bristol City and Cardiff City respectively, Bondz N'gala's move to Yeovil Town and the dismissal of Kari Arnason after the Icelandic international refused to sign a wage deferral agreement. Arnason has since signed for Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen.
Then there is the arrival and departure, in the space of a matter of days, of Liam Dickinson after Peter Reid had agreed a deal with the young striker.
At the time of writing, the Sale and Agreement of the club, which will see Gibraltar based Bishop International, led by Truro City Chairman Kevin Heaney, take over the ownership of Home Park and former Leeds United and Cardiff City Chairman Peter Ridsdale acquire the Football club for £1 is currently awaiting approval from the Football League.
Should the deal fail to meet the League's approval, local businessmen James Brent is heading an alternative bid that will see Plymouth City Council buy back Home Park at a knock down price as well as Pilgrims' Office Staff, who have barely been paid since the turn of the year, receive a favourable deal.
Patterson, who has been capped five times by the province, is joining the Northern Irish champions on a season-long loan deal and with a year to run on his current deal at Home Park, it seems likely that he has played his last game for the Pilgrims.
His departure follows the sales of Yala Bolasie and Joe Mason to Bristol City and Cardiff City respectively, Bondz N'gala's move to Yeovil Town and the dismissal of Kari Arnason after the Icelandic international refused to sign a wage deferral agreement. Arnason has since signed for Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen.
Then there is the arrival and departure, in the space of a matter of days, of Liam Dickinson after Peter Reid had agreed a deal with the young striker.
At the time of writing, the Sale and Agreement of the club, which will see Gibraltar based Bishop International, led by Truro City Chairman Kevin Heaney, take over the ownership of Home Park and former Leeds United and Cardiff City Chairman Peter Ridsdale acquire the Football club for £1 is currently awaiting approval from the Football League.
Should the deal fail to meet the League's approval, local businessmen James Brent is heading an alternative bid that will see Plymouth City Council buy back Home Park at a knock down price as well as Pilgrims' Office Staff, who have barely been paid since the turn of the year, receive a favourable deal.
ATIENO TO BE OFFERED DEAL BY GULLS
Torquay United manager Martin Ling has revealed that trialist striker Taiwo Atieno will be offered a permanent contract with the Gulls.
Atieno, a Kenyan international, has scored two goals in as many pre-season friendllies for Torquay in games against Tiverton Town and Bristol City and has sufficiently impressed Ling enough to be offered a deal.
He opened the scoring for the Gulls in their 2-0 victory over the Robins yesterday in the 13th minute before fellow new recruit Rene Howe added a second in the 53rd minute.
Once the deal has been completed, he will join a roster of strikers that includes Howe and Billy Kee as well as rookie pros Ashley Yeoman and Ray Spear.
Atieno, a Kenyan international, has scored two goals in as many pre-season friendllies for Torquay in games against Tiverton Town and Bristol City and has sufficiently impressed Ling enough to be offered a deal.
He opened the scoring for the Gulls in their 2-0 victory over the Robins yesterday in the 13th minute before fellow new recruit Rene Howe added a second in the 53rd minute.
Once the deal has been completed, he will join a roster of strikers that includes Howe and Billy Kee as well as rookie pros Ashley Yeoman and Ray Spear.
Thursday, 14 July 2011
HILLY ON SCORE SHEET FOR TIVVY AGAINST GULLS
Torquay United began life under Martin Ling with a victory over Tiverton Town and a familiar face found the target for Tivvy at Ladysmead.
Gulls' record appearance holder Kevin Hill, who played 474 games for Torquay between 1997 and 2008, pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 51st minute after Joe Oastler and a penalty from Kenyan trialist Taiwo Atieno had given the Gulls a two goal advantage.
In other news, Torquay have announced the signing of striker Rene Howe on a two-year deal. Howe had enjoyed prolific spells in non-keague football with Bedford Town and Kettering Town before joining Peterborough United. Since then, he has led a nomadic existence, having been loaned out to a number of clubs including Rochdale, Morecambe, Lincoln City, Gillingham, Rushden & Diamonds and Bristol Rovers.
Gulls' record appearance holder Kevin Hill, who played 474 games for Torquay between 1997 and 2008, pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 51st minute after Joe Oastler and a penalty from Kenyan trialist Taiwo Atieno had given the Gulls a two goal advantage.
In other news, Torquay have announced the signing of striker Rene Howe on a two-year deal. Howe had enjoyed prolific spells in non-keague football with Bedford Town and Kettering Town before joining Peterborough United. Since then, he has led a nomadic existence, having been loaned out to a number of clubs including Rochdale, Morecambe, Lincoln City, Gillingham, Rushden & Diamonds and Bristol Rovers.
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