Summer Transfers: August Round-Up and Opinion

In what has been a busy summer so far for Alex MacDonald and his staff, former player Adam Roberts has re-joined the club on a one-year deal while ten have left, leaving seventeen players on the clubs books. A number of new players have been offered trials with the club, and these will begin in two weeks when the current players return to the club.

Some bad news however concerns the signing of Josh Davies, and the new contracts offered to Alastair England and Adee Egbeyemi. Davies is believed to be stalling over his offer while rumour has it that England and Egbeyemi may want to cancel their contracts.

So lets look at who has left, who has stayed and who might be coming in so far this summer.

In terms of between the sticks, two players who are staying with the club are Manager Alex MacDonald, and former Manager and new Assistant Manager James Naik, who are believed to be the two main candidates for goalkeeper this year, as there has been no mention of a outright replacement for Liam Weaver so far. MacDonald is also a useful addition at the back and Naik can play in midfield and attack.

In defence the team have lost full-backs Chris Townsend and Jason Dodsworth, two players who have been at the club since its formation. Matt L'argent will be more than capable on either side as he proved last season, while Jack Thomas and Adee Egbeyemi (if he stays) can also play on the right. Stuart Fleming is another option but he will be out with an injury until at least Christmas, which means there is defiantly a gap to be filled.

To fill this gap one player who is defiantly believed to be joining is out of contract former Gigolo Warriors defender Adam Smith. The twenty-one year old is believed to have signed a deal but no official announcement has been made as of yet. Other players being strongly linked include twenty year-old defender Gareth Tucker, another former Gigolo Warrior in twenty-one year-old full-back Daniel Lyons, free agent nineteen year-old full-back Dave Norbury. Another pair of defenders include eighteen year-olds Owain Morris and Peter Oliver.

As for centre-backs to replace Michael Jones and join up with current players captain Darrell Rees and Chris Webster as well as Alex MacDonald, three young players have been in talks. Nineteen year-old highly-rated Sam Holloway, and eighteen year-olds Lewis Lloyd and Peter Thomas have all spoken to the club and should link up next month. The possibly return of Michael Jones has been proven inaccurate and former Aber S.P.O.T.S defender Cei Whitehouse, linked to the club earlier this summer has defiantly fallen through. Also, a move for unattached nineteen year-old full-back/winger Ben Roberts seems to have cooled.

In midfield having lost Paresh Bodalikar, Ross Harvey and the possibility that Jack Thomas may play in defence the club will still have the talents of Adam Edgerley and Matt Davies, as well as Ben Court and James Naik. Long-term target Josh Davies seems to remain linked in the press, but no deal is believed to have been finalised at the moment. Another former Gigolo player, Rhys Adamec has been linked with a move, three Joneses twenty year-old defensive midfielder Edward as well as central midfielders eighteen year-old Tudur and twenty year-old Rob who are all unattached have also been linked and believed to joining the squad in September. Also on the radar are nineteen year-old Jack Talbot and Matt Burt. Not joining the club however are Sex Panthers pair central-midfielder Ryan Lewis and winger Owain Hackling and possibly Stuart Harding. Twenty year-old attacking midfielder Chris Smart seems intent on joining in September.

On the wing having lost Sean Mack, Joe Scott, Iain Giessler and the possibility of Adee Egbeyemi not returning, We Hate Ben have completed the signing of former winger Adam Roberts. Roberts was without a club and he is believed to be looking forward to seeing some of his old teammates and meeting his new ones. Matt Sermon, Danny Shaw and Nick McSmith, in addition to Hywel Williams and Scott Thomas who can play there and in other attacking positions all remain at the club. For the second year running, Gigolo player Dave Daniels has been strongly rumoured to join the SoccerJoos, but latest reports suggest talks may have stalled. A pair of twenty-four year-old wingers Dave Reeves and Tam Blake have been in talks as well as Steven Herbert. Highly-rated left-sided player Scott Clarke has also been linked in recent weeks, but talks have yet to be confirmed.

To join striking pair James Peate and Toby Moss and to replace the probable outgoing Alastair England are Phil Maddocks, Steffan Davies and negotiations with David Turvill seem to be ongoing. Maddocks is a twenty-two year-old ready made replacement for England and youngster Davies is a eighteen year-old winger/striker. Not joining the club for sure is twenty year-old Craig Ohlsson, while talks with Chris Read seem to have stalled.

All in all the makings of a strong squad seem to be coming together, just in time for preseason this month.