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With any luck, perhaps we have our own clauses on the deal for any future transfers?

Looks like it's a done deal. Although Sky Sports announced Jennings instead of Stephens..

I see your point, although I don't like the idea of a hard fought season finishing and rash decisions being made on contracts by both clubs and players without due thought.

Problem with that would be players wouldn't get a holiday, unless they're willing to risk a month or so without pay.

I read that as 500k to bring both, say 350 + 150, could be wrong though I don't really know anything about the other fella. As I have said on here before I'm sure this is what we have been waiting for, before wasting budget on free transfers of little quality - allowing time for more funds to clear. 350k save Bury's chunk converted into wages over two years would certainly give us a little more maneuverability.

Definitely think Rochdale will be down there too, lost their manager and several players. No post-promotion momentum this year, not exactly loaded either.

Encouraging that he's no where near as old as Crossley or Goram when they joined(/returned). Though I do worry what sort of wages he'll be on - Without doubt more than Brill. Further to the above, from Wiki: Definitely our kind of player.

Fair enough if the loan has expired. But either way the club must have some number in mind as a valuation. If he didn't set the world alight at Southampton I can't imagine it would increase especially.

I think what the club can't afford to do is stubbornly attempt to hold onto some of these names (Stephens, Lee etc) only to then eventually cave in mid-August, or on deadline day by which time the summer turnaround is complete and there wont be the same quality still available. If these players are going to be leaving, let's get it out of the way and give the funds to the manager now. Particularly with Stephens, who presumably has an agreed price with Southampton, and we are clear in our valuation of him should they not chose to take up this option and other clubs come sniffing. I understand the club may need to hold out for the highest possible fee, but we risk then either rushing through transfers with out thorough deliberation, or postponing until January and struggling along with what we have and yet more loanees. Perhaps this is what Dickov is holding out for? Perhaps we were in with a chance of signing McDonald, but an outgoing transfer broke down? But until he knows how much he has (or doesn't have) to work with, it must be very difficult to pinpoint his top targets?

Mike Grella: Oldham (Free) Also listed there, though we appear to have some point been linked (on this website) with every single one of Leeds released list. Worth adding though this source has literally no basis. I'm sure there are far more players going on frees this year than normal, lots of teams slashing budgets!

I think Ljungberg was a rumour started by someone on here. More rumours: Do we even have the money to gamble on an expensive signing?

I feel now is a good time to open ourselves to self-edited video footages of Goalkeepers from the league of aus? Worked for us in the past!

I'd agree that it's likely to be a prank, though if you look deep enough there have been several murmurs from the United side over the last few days.. Nice to see also some guys on there have a sense of humour: "305493956 15 May 2011 22:12:36 HULL CITY RUMOURS: Hull City are wrestling with newly promoted Brighton for the services of Oumare Tounkana after the Oldham Athletic striker impressed this season scoring 3 goals in 28 appearances."

For the typical footballer, I couldn't agree more. However I would offer that Scholes is certainly not your typical footballer, and turning out on a Saturday afternoon for his local side may be more of an attractive proposition than it appears. If it were to happen, I predict it being a case of a retirement first, and then perhaps in 6, 12, even 18 months time his love of playing the game hasn't wavered and we could maybe tempt him in to a low key return (if that is possible!). I still believe it to be very unlikely, but hey, it is little hopes and dreams like this that keep us lower league fans going!

First post on here in a while, but it isn't April 1st is it?

Does anyone else think he looks oddly like Paul Ince?

As much as it is frustrating when a deal does collapse, who can say F5'ing the website doesn't make their afternoons slightly more interesting?

So you went for the instinctive pint and didn't bother with the toilets?

Ironically, he happens to be Admin. One of the reasons I rarely go on there anymore, unless there's a good reason (i.e, arguing with Millwall fans) - Double Standards.

Oldham 2-1 Luton, about '99 probably - October time if I remember correctly.

I'm glad we didn't win, we would have felt guilty. What an absoloute idiot. 'It's only a Friendly' - Exactly, he'll be fined and banned for what? Getting on the pitch in a friendly against Rochdale. Allott and Liddell impressed me, Liddell worked hard and pressured them and almost won a header. Whilst Allott, as I was advised by his former coach, is as hard as nails and not scared of anything. Davies confused me, is he right or left footed, I thought right, then when he had a real chance he was determined to cut back onto his left? Reedited as there was no swearing in there.

We got rid of Vernon because we were offered a creative Midfielder which we desperately needed instead, Richie Wellens. And Ronnie Moore didn't like Vernon. I always remember Shez used to be out on the pitch with Vernon before games, he's definately a fan of him.

He had also only just signed a new contract with us when he moved to Blackpool? Anything's possible! Saying that I reckon we might see Leon Clarke back.

I reckon Sheridan may make another attempt to sign Scott Vernon. I know that he's said he wants to stay and fight for his place at Blackpool but I think we know as much as anyone that Footballers say a lot of things with no meaning. Vernon is a much better finisher and all round player to Porter in my opinion, and I rated him very highly when he was a Latics player, I remember after his hattrick against Grimsby every shot he had was towards the top corner. Before he left for Blackpool his ability in the air was improving, and if the fee is small I don't see why we shouldn't bring him back.

I disagree with you there. Whilst it is important to have experience in your squad, not every player can be experienced and you need to find the right balance of experience and youth. Gregan and Thompson provide experience at the back, practically all of the midfield except Taylor, and Hughes up front provides experience. But if you have a young lad who is capable, but short of experience, he has to get it from somewhere. Sending him on loan to a lower league is pointless, as we have already established that Neal Eardley is good enough for League One - Put him in the team along side Liddell and Gregan is ideal. I believe this may be one of the reasons Taylor plays on the Left. With Eardley/Lomax and Taylor on the same side the balance would be wrong, and whilst the players would be capable, their experience could become a serious weak point on the team, however, I believe providing the players around have the experience combined with ability, then Eardley's inexperience should be less of a problem.