3rd Degree – w/e 10/08/03

THE THIRD DEGREE – Week Ending 10th August

WEEK ENDING AUGUST 10 2003

Boston = Goalkeeper Paul Bastock has welcomed the arrival of new goalkeeper Steve Croudson. Bastock said "Having someone like Steve will keep me on my toes for next season." Chairman Des Wood has said he is very close to revealing a new site for a new stadium. Manager Neil Thompson was frustrated his side created but wasted chances in their 0-0 draw with Macclesfield. He said the decisive moment was when Paul Duffield’s shot hit the underside of the bar. "That ball was a foot over the line, and we also had three clear calls for penalties waved away. The officials simply didn’t help us."BristolRovers = Striker Andy Rammell will need a second operation on his troublesome knee. Fulham striker Calum Willock has gone to the gas heads on loan for a month. Boss Ray Graydon said, "I think we showed today we are different from last year. "This time last year we would have collapsed when Scunthorpe equalised because they were asking a lot of questions." After their 2-1 win over Scunthorpe.Bury = Full-back Matty Brass has signed a short-term contract after proving his fitness to manager Andy Preece. Boss Preece has said that he is still hoping to add to his squad. "I still feel we need cover at centre-back, a natural wide player and maybe a goal poacher up front." Cambridge = Boss John Taylor has named Stuart Bimson as the new team captain for the new season. Paul Wanless will not return to the club after negotiating a free transfer to Oxford. Taylor also said he will have to keep his fingers crossed that he can keep injuries to a minimum in his small playing squad this season. Former Cambridge favourite Alan Kimble, 37, is back training with the club having last played for them in 1993.Carlisle = Quiet week at Carlisle this week except midfielder Brendan McGill may be back in three weeks after it was revealed his injury is not as bad as first feared.Cheltenham = Lee Howells is looking to get back into the first team football at Whaddon Road this season fort he first time since breaking a leg in March last year. The FA has ruled that the Robins must pay Forest Green £5000 for striker Kayode Odejayi, who joined Cheltenham this summer, because they had to provide compensation to Forest Green as Odejayi was only 21. The FA also ruled that Cheltenham must pay Forest Green for every first team appearances Odejayi plays and the Third Division club will also have to pay Forest Green 25% of any future transfer fee for Odejayi. The Robins have revealed plan to renovate Whaddon Road. Cheltenham manager Bobby Gould had no excuses for his side’s defeat as they lost out against Southend. "We did okay for the first 20 minutes or so and never really looked in any trouble during that time," he said.Darlington = Darlington director of football Luke Raine remains confident that the North Stand of their new stadium will be completed soon, the club are currently waiting for a safety certificate. French midfielder Fabian Bossy has signed for the club on a one-year deal along with Jonathan Hutchinson who has signed a two-year deal. Mick Tait was furious with some members of his squad as Darlington were soundly beaten by the third division favourites on the opening day of the season. We were fine in the first half, comfortably matching Hull." "Too many of our players ambled back after attacks broke down and that’s unacceptable."Doncaster = Rovers striker Robert Gill has joined Chester on a months loan. Doncaster made their return to the football league with a 3-1 win over Leyton Orient.Huddersfield = Rob Edwards has been named the new club captain. Winger Jon Thorrington has suffered a setback in his bid to impress new boss Peter Jackson but suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury. Huddersfield Town manager Peter Jackson was disappointed to only secure a point from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Cambridge United. "We gave our all and battled well," said Jackson. "It was a shame to not have won after all the effort we put in.Hull = Defender John Anderson says he will play on despite a broken foot. Hull boss Peter Taylor was a proud man after his Third Division promotion favourites started their season with a 4-1 win against Darlington. "It was a terrific start," he said.Kidderminster = Former Swan John Williams has signed a three-month deal at Aggborough aswell as Walsall striker Andy Bishop for one-month loan period following his six-month spell last season. Kidderminster manager Ian Britton revealed that two-goal hero Bo Henriksen only clinched his starting place 24 hours before the 2-1 home win over Mansfield. "You can always rely on Bo to do the spectacular."LeytonO = Australian centre-half Jamie Harnwell has agreed a month’s contract with the O’s. Dave McGhee and Matthew Joseph both returned from injury in Orient’s last pre-season friendly against Wycombe.Lincoln = The Imps have completed the signings of forwards Niall McNamara and Ellis Remy with both players securing six-month deals. New signing Stuart Bimson will be new club captain for the coming season. Chris Cornelly underwent surgery and it was revealed that that the 27-year old had suffered and anterior cruciate ligament rupture, which could easily end the player’s season before it’s started. Manager Keith Alexander has once again set Lincoln a 50-point survival target. Imps boss Keith Alexander will not pick striker Simon Yeo until he learns to cut out the bouts of temper that saw him red-carded after just half an hour of Saturday’s opener with Oxford United at Sincil Bank. Former Lincoln City trialist goalkeeper Jon Kennedy has signed a contract with Conference newcomers Accrington Stanley.Macclesfield = Aston Villa Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill has completed a three-month loan deal. The Silkmen have also signed former Blackpool midfielder Jamie Milligan on a short-term deal. Macclesfield manager David Moss admitted his side were fortunate in their 0-0 draw at home to Boston. Moss said: "I know, and my players know, that we can play better. But you must take something positive out of the game and there are 10 teams in this division who don’t have a point yet, so at least we’ve got off the mark.Mansfield = Mansfield player-manager Keith Curle has signed two central defenders on short term contracts, former Rotherham player Dave Artell and Malta captain Luke Dimech. Mansfield’s assistant manager John Gannon was in no doubt his side had been robbed following a 2-1 defeat against Kidderminster. He said: "We had chances and domination, and if it had been a boxing match the referee would have stopped it.Northampton = The Cobblers have split the captaincy this season, Paul Reid will kipper the side and Welsh International Paul Trollope will be captain off the field. Northampton Town manager Martin Wilkinson remains confident his new-look side can win promotion despite their opening day setback against Torquay United. "I believe we will still get promotion this season," he said after the match. "In a funny sort of way this comes as a bit of a relief. We should not underestimate the strength of Division Three."Oxford = All of the five trialists, Gerard McCargo, Martin Lomax, Adam van Dommele, Scott Marshall and Izzy Iriekpen, have all been released. "Some did okay but they weren’t quite up to our standard," said a club spokesman. Former Cambridge skipper Paul Wanless has signed a one-year contract with Oxford, with an option to extend. Oxford United manager Ian Atkins felt that his side were always in control as they picked up three points from yesterday’s opening day win over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank. He said: "We were always in control but we were a bit too elaborate at times.Rochdale = The Dale have completed the signings of former Coventry players Craig Strachan, son of Southampton manager Gordon, Robert Betts and Man City’s Chris Shuker is on loan. Manager Alan Buckley tipped Yeovil for the top after watching them beat his Rochdale side at Spotland. "Yeovil showed good understanding and looked like a team. They are on a roll after their promotion season," he said.Scunthorpe = Midfielder Richard Kell has been handed a new six-month contract to give him chance to prove his fitness after a serious injury. Brian Laws has sealed the signing of Rangers striker Steve MacLean on loan till January 1st. Brian Laws was pleased with the performance but was obviously bitterly disappointed to lose the first match of the season to Bristol Rovers. "We were disappointed we didn’t win the game because we certainly had enough chances to do that. If we play like that every week we will certainly win more games than we lose."Southend = Southend boss Steve Wignall was delighted with his side’s showing after the 2-0 win against Cheltenham. "I must admit the players exceeded expectations by 25 per cent or more, bearing in mind the heat in which they played."Torquay = Gulls boss Leroy Rosenior said: "It wasn’t a shock to me that we won. "But to come here and do it in the circumstances, with our injuries and the fact that so many players had not been able to train properly during the week, was tremendous." After their 1-0 win over Northampton.Yeovil = The Glovers are aiming high this season and manager Gary Johnson says he doesn’t want to finish near the bottom. Kevin Gall scored Yeovil’s first goal in the football league in their 3-1 win over RochdaleYork = York City are set to sign Northampton defender Richard Hope. Player-manager Chris Brass has said he will appeal against his red card that he picked up against his side’s 2-1 win over Carlisle.

THE THIRD DEGREE IS COMPILED BY MATTHEW PHILLIPS

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