Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[Indian Dan]

People keep saying stuff on this top bit, people keeping asking for clarification but I've yet to read anything concrete. There aren't constraints on what you can give individual players are there? Surely your £1.5m budget is yours to do what you want? Or are you just working this £1350 out on an average based on a certain squad size or something?

You’re right, of course. My point is that 1 marquee player on, say, 3 times the cap average, dilutes the rest of a squad - either financially and/or in numbers.

 

[Son of Cod]

Any idea how big Scunny's sell on clause for Charlie Goode is?

Matty Blair looking likely to join after rejecting a contract at Donny and also set to sign Elliot Bonds on loan from Hull. Squad almost complete, just a back up Keeper required. Looking very strong methinks.

Definitely looking strong. Also definitely on the precarious finances list.

 

[masi51]

The is a way around this with the loan system. A shrewd manager can sign two or three good prem reserve players and get the parent club to stump up most of the wages....Freeing up money to sign two marquee players.
You then get 4/5 players and pay for only 2/3

 

[Bottega Don]

Any idea how big Scunny's sell on clause for Charlie Goode is?

No clue how big it is but it's still not good we let him go for peanuts in the first place. I suppose he'd never have been worth £1.5M here.

 

[Indian Dan]

Oh, yeah. Those altruistic PL clubs. Always doing favours for those down the pecking order. Well known for it.

 

[Son of Cod]

No clue how big it is but it's still not good we let him go for peanuts in the first place. I suppose he'd never have been worth £1.5M here.

Oh so you actually do have one?

We haven't signed many players. All 7 offered deals renewed remember. That core of the squad would have seen us promoted last year if not for the pandemic.

 

[Bottega Don]

Oh so you actually do have one?

Yeah it's been confirmed we do, could be tiny though.

 

[hellogregory]

hellogregory: *Categorically states he isn't best in division*
hellogregory: I haven't given an opinion on his ability

All I am saying is that I've seen him play several times and I can tell he is way way way too good for this division. If you choose to reject this information then so be it. However, if he signs for someone in this division on loan and is incredible then make sure you lawyer up because you'll be up against the Grimsby fans in L2 forum crown court charged with being absolutely wrong in the first degree. Not a good situation for you to be in with previous similar charges.

I never rejected the information How can I be absolutely wrong in the first degree when I’ve never once said he’s shite?

Jesus you’re taking this a bit serious aren’t you. I know you’re sensible and rational but fucking hell!

 

[EricSabin]

Yeah it's been confirmed we do, could be tiny though.

‘Nominal‘ according to our local journo.

 

[Si Robin]

Definitely looking strong. Also definitely on the precarious finances list.

It's very odd how the Blair transfer has played out this summer. On Saturday Duff was adamant that our budget was the same as last season (claims we'll move up from 21st in the League last season because other clubs have reduced there's) and that there's no money left. Then in his interview last night, when asked 3 times about the likelihood of signing him, Duff was adamant they were only helping each other out with game-time and we needed cover for Sean Long during pre-season. It was clear he was basically testing the board to see if they would front up.

Today the local journo, who is rarely wrong on these things as he has a great relationship with the club and worked for them for a time, has said that the board are now looking to give Duff the money for Blair.

Of course - there's the possibility that there has been interest in Ryan Broom and Duff's just looking to cover all bases, but how this has played out doesn't look all that great in my eyes.

I also don't see our finances being precarious - but then I would say that. We've signed 3 players on loan - we have a "relationship" with WBA so the two players from them won't be costing much and after doing so well with Max Sheaf and Jacob Greaves last season, alongside the fact that Grant McCann and Duff are still good mates, then I don't see Elliott Bonds costing us anything at all.

 

[valefan16]

You can only pay him £1350pw - unless you want to use up 2 or 3 players’ wages/squad numbers on him.

Strange he didn’t accept what would have been a higher offer from Mansfield to re-sign than being left at the mercy of the cap.

Hope you get him. Feel better about my bet then!

We can only sign 2 more over 21's under the new rules, one needs to be a back up keeper so essentially aside from the keeper we have whatever is left below the budget we can use as we can't sign anyone else.

Askey is confident of getting the "mystery striker" who is at the club today...

We will have to see but if it comes off it will be a crucial piece towards what we need, a goalscorer to add to Pope (banned 6 games) and Cullen (great player but muscles like string)

Whilst I wont necessarily agree with Beedle that we would of gone up (i do think we'd have made the Play offs such was form after Xmas but then its a lottery) the rest of what he says is pretty much spot on... this is no longer Valiant 2001 or Smurf in charge of the club, after two terrible regimes spanning 15 years we finally have the right people at the club, and we are incredibly lucky, Autonet being involved is a good thing, now sponsoring their second stand and the fact Robbie Williams has finally got back involved is another huge plus... all possible due to the new owners who are pulling the club out the darkness.

After fearing for the clubs survival it is nice to "love it" again and it has made me realise that we are so so lucky and hope other clubs in trouble can find their own Carol as its an awful time.

 

[Huntsman94]

James Norwood to Valley Parade doing the rounds on Twitter. This actually comes from an Colchester fan who says he has a “credible source”, but won’t reveal - typical.

Interesting.

Brilliant player and would be one hell of a signing. That said I have no idea how you'd be able to afford his wages with the salary cap in place.

Ipswich would be foolish to let him go. And if they did, then I'd have thought he'd be in League One or as mentioned previously, up with Micky in Dundee.

 

[SteveCTFC]

It's very odd how the Blair transfer has played out this summer. On Saturday Duff was adamant that our budget was the same as last season (claims we'll move up from 21st in the League last season because other clubs have reduced there's) and that there's no money left. Then in his interview last night, when asked 3 times about the likelihood of signing him, Duff was adamant they were only helping each other out with game-time and we needed cover for Sean Long during pre-season. It was clear he was basically testing the board to see if they would front up.

Today the local journo, who is rarely wrong on these things as he has a great relationship with the club and worked for them for a time, has said that the board are now looking to give Duff the money for Blair.

Of course - there's the possibility that there has been interest in Ryan Broom and Duff's just looking to cover all bases, but how this has played out doesn't look all that great in my eyes.

I also don't see our finances being precarious - but then I would say that. We've signed 3 players on loan - we have a "relationship" with WBA so the two players from them won't be costing much and after doing so well with Max Sheaf and Jacob Greaves last season, alongside the fact that Grant McCann and Duff are still good mates, then I don't see Elliott Bonds costing us anything at all.

Bit of a shame its gone quite so public, doesn't look great as you say. Must be a bit of wriggle room in the budget and if MD thinks Blair could make the difference then you've gotta back him. Absolutely wouldn't be signing if finances were precarious, that's pretty obvious. Top 3 must be the aim!

 

[Muzzle]

Kevin Davies better than Aldridge.

I raise you Dixie Dean.

And i'll raise you the 1964 football betting scandal

 

[Son of Cod]

0.03 ppg off the playoffs. Week before we were in them, week after we would have been. Facts, fish man.

Haha yeah, I meant more that you were taking the playoffs as certain promotion...

I never rejected the information How can I be absolutely wrong in the first degree when I’ve never once said he’s shite?

Jesus you’re taking this a bit serious aren’t you. I know you’re sensible and rational but fucking hell!

Yes, correct I am taking this very seriously like I take everything very seriously on this forum.

It's very odd how the Blair transfer has played out this summer. On Saturday Duff was adamant that our budget was the same as last season (claims we'll move up from 21st in the League last season because other clubs have reduced there's) and that there's no money left. Then in his interview last night, when asked 3 times about the likelihood of signing him, Duff was adamant they were only helping each other out with game-time and we needed cover for Sean Long during pre-season. It was clear he was basically testing the board to see if they would front up.

Today the local journo, who is rarely wrong on these things as he has a great relationship with the club and worked for them for a time, has said that the board are now looking to give Duff the money for Blair.

Of course - there's the possibility that there has been interest in Ryan Broom and Duff's just looking to cover all bases, but how this has played out doesn't look all that great in my eyes.

I also don't see our finances being precarious - but then I would say that. We've signed 3 players on loan - we have a "relationship" with WBA so the two players from them won't be costing much and after doing so well with Max Sheaf and Jacob Greaves last season, alongside the fact that Grant McCann and Duff are still good mates, then I don't see Elliott Bonds costing us anything at all.

I've been saying for years now that Cheltenham are overspending, but it's just a hunch really. The lack of transparency and contradictory statements like the one above would worry me if I was a Cheltenham fan. You could well be right though, you know your club better than me. I just wouldn't be surprised if you're not sustainable.

Matty Blair is a great signing though, he usually terrorises us and I don't like playing you lot at the best of times so definitely not looking forward to it this season now.

 

[masi51]

We'd beaten all of them in the league. I genuinely believe we would have done it.

if my aunt had balls she would have been my uncle

 

[SF_]

Based on his performance against us this season for Reading, Charlie Adam would be ridiculous at this level, although could probably only manage 60 minutes here and there.

Still an ugly, toothless, ex-lasher twat mind.

 

[masi51]

Based on his performance against us this season for Reading, Charlie Adam would be ridiculous at this level, although could probably only manage 60 minutes here and there.

Still an ugly, toothless, ex-lasher twat mind.

Be a ideal signing coming off the bench if we are just a goal up and closing the game down...or if we are a goal down or a teams parked the bus and are sitting back. He can pick a pass

 

[Son of Cod]

Brighton, Palace and Sheff Utd apparently all interested in Mattie Pollock.

 

[SF_]

Be a ideal signing coming off the bench if we are just a goal up and closing the game down...or if we are a goal down or a teams parked the bus and are sitting back. He can pick a pass

His set pieces are still top class and yeah, if he finds space he'll generally pick something out.

Think he could still do a job for a Rotherham or Luton in the Championship.

 

[Si Robin]

I've been saying for years now that Cheltenham are overspending, but it's just a hunch really. The lack of transparency and contradictory statements like the one above would worry me if I was a Cheltenham fan. You could well be right though, you know your club better than me. I just wouldn't be surprised if you're not sustainable.

Matty Blair is a great signing though, he usually terrorises us and I don't like playing you lot at the best of times so definitely not looking forward to it this season now.

Up to the beginning of the 18/19 season we would absolutely not be overspending. Paul Baker had his fingers burnt under Martin Allen in 2009, and that was the first, and only, time he'd let the purse-strings as chairman (he took over in 1996). It's easy to forget that we were one of the few Football League clubs not impacted by the ITV Digital collapse because he refused to spend money before we had it (unlike the majority of clubs in the League).

However, he stepped down in May 2018 and the new chairman does seem a bit of a wide boy. He likes to talk up how successful he is in business. That being said, we have fan's representation on the board through the Robin's Trust and practically the rest of the board were fans before coming on board in the first place. I'm confident that we are in no danger. In fact, I think if anything we tend to be too careful. A lot of Cheltenham fans hate the public statements we make because they see it as portraying us as "little old Cheltenham". Personally I like that way. I remember playing Baldock Town and Sudbury Town in the Beazer Homes League.

 

[masi51]

Brighton, Palace and Sheff Utd apparently all interested in Mattie Pollock.

you have a player playing for you who is actually called that........Brilliant !

 

[Kauto Star]

Brilliant player and would be one hell of a signing. That said I have no idea how you'd be able to afford his wages with the salary cap in place.

Ipswich would be foolish to let him go. And if they did, then I'd have thought he'd be in League One or as mentioned previously, up with Micky in Dundee.

Not quite sure the motive of a Colchester fan starting this rumour. We haven't a prayer of attracting Norwood to sign for us, and I very much doubt that we have even enquired about him.

 

[Si Robin]

We'd beaten all of them in the league. I genuinely believe we would have done it.

Might want to re-visit that comment.

 

[Son of Cod]

Up to the beginning of the 18/19 season we would absolutely not be overspending. Paul Baker had his fingers burnt under Martin Allen in 2009, and that was the first, and only, time he'd let the purse-strings as chairman (he took over in 1996). It's easy to forget that we were one of the few Football League clubs not impacted by the ITV Digital collapse because he refused to spend money before we had it (unlike the majority of clubs in the League).

However, he stepped down in May 2018 and the new chairman does seem a bit of a wide boy. He likes to talk up how successful he is in business. That being said, we have fan's representation on the board through the Robin's Trust and practically the rest of the board were fans before coming on board in the first place. I'm confident that we are in no danger. In fact, I think if anything we tend to be too careful. A lot of Cheltenham fans hate the public statements we make because they see it as portraying us as "little old Cheltenham". Personally I like that way. I remember playing Baldock Town and Sudbury Town in the Beazer Homes League.

Fair enough, I'll take all of that on board and add it to the dossier I have been compiling on all L2 clubs finances. However, I will say there's no way you won the Conference with a sustainable budget. I'm definitely not accepting that. You always seem to pull a banger of a signing off in January, I think that's why I'm always a bit skeptical about your financial situation. Why can't we do this with an average crowd of consistently 1,000 to 2,000 more? Perhaps your budget is managed better, or your higher earners perform better but I'm not convinced that can be the case every season, especially since we're penny pinching nowadays.

 

[Son of Cod]

Might want to re-visit that comment.

Can confirm underrating Cheltenham in the playoffs hurts. Especially in fucking Cardiff.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Cheltenham are notorious around Gloucestershire as the football club that chucks money around unsustainably

 

[F!RTHY]

Brilliant player and would be one hell of a signing. That said I have no idea how you'd be able to afford his wages with the salary cap in place.

Ipswich would be foolish to let him go. And if they did, then I'd have thought he'd be in League One or as mentioned previously, up with Micky in Dundee.

It depends who and what you want to believe really, doesn’t it. Some ITK rumours suggest that we’ve spent just over 2/3 of our budget, with McCall hinting that we’re in the market for a RB and a striker. If that’s true, we could be planning on spending a hefty chunk on wages given we’ll have just over £9k per week left over for two players.

For what it’s worth, I can’t see him coming.

 

[Trapdoor]

We've sold Ben Chrisene to Aston Villa. Undisclosed fee, probably around 500k plus addons since we've said we are happy enough with the valuation to not ask for tribunal.

Shame as he was clearly going to become an important first team player but it doesnt make sense to stand in the way of developing players.

 

[Moomin]

Our 16 year old midfielder, Ben Chrisene has now officially joined Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee. I’ve heard it’s in the region of £500k.

Pissed off it’s another young player we won’t see play for us. Hopefully we will have a good sell on but any money from that would be years down the line.