Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2024/25

[Kenneth E End]

We're always due 1 or 2 bizarre signings a season - last year it was Curtley Williams from Lowestoft Town. Not a youngster either, someone in his mid-20s, but fitted the John Still mould of "young and hungry". Was in the Ryman Premier team of the year, and although he wasn't ever 100% fit, it was clear he was never going to be anywhere near good enough.

 

[WAP]

We held talks with Kyle Bennett towards the end of last week, could be our first signing.

 

[iWomble]

Five of our senior squad next year played together in our under-10s so you can hang on to them, although another two got stolen. There's a good article about it here. Interestingly, our Youth coach reckons they weren't the most naturally gifted players at that age, or even showed potential until quite a bit later, but were the ones who enjoyed playing for the sake of it and then put in the hard work to develop.

 

[Crewelad87]

What the actual fuck? This is brilliant, another Leitch-Smith waiting to happen!

He will do ok in league 2, seemed to do ok at Mansfield and he works hard, just lacks the quality at league 1 level.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Ipswich local rag journo reckons we are signing Jack Marriott from them:
https://twitter.com/ChrisBramms/status/600343904312000513

I remember him being pretty special on loan to Woking in 2013 when we were in the Conference. His career since seems pretty uninspiring though.

A midget too so not sure how he fits in our system. Unless he can play wide? I've no idea really.

 

[Kenneth E End]

The kid knows where the goal is. "Uninspiring career" - he's only 20!

 

[Kenneth E End]

The kid knows where the goal is. "Uninspiring career" - he's only 20!

 

[Judge Dredd]

The kid knows where the goal is. "Uninspiring career" - he's only 20!

Uninspiring career since his initial burst on to the scene in 2013 is what I said. He went from averaging a goal a game with Woking in the Conference, to a year later averaging about 1 goal every 3 games in the same league, and a year later 1 goal every 5 games. Unless his role changed in the team, that's not exactly the kind of progression you'd hope for.

I'm not writing him off by any means. I'd like to see some thoughts from Woking and Colchester fans though.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

He will do ok in league 2, seemed to do ok at Mansfield and he works hard, just lacks the quality at league 1 level.

Mansfield fans said he was crap after January, can't remember the last time he's scored!

Conference player at best.

 

[cufc17]

We had him (Marriott) on loan early in the season, and I have to admit he was quite uninspiring. Didn't play too many games though, so can't be too judgemental.

 

[JJ1532]

Mansfield fans said he was crap after January, can't remember the last time he's scored!

Conference player at best.

11th April, 4 games before the end of the season. So not that long ago. I said it elsewhere, but this is probably his level. He scored 7 in 30 appearances for the worst attacking team in league 2. Translate that to a team that is average in that department and I'd say double figures is do-able for him. He's just not a man you expect more than 10 from I think. Put him in a decent attacking team with a good foil striker alongside him and I think he'd do ok at this level. Only 23, so still time to improve as well.

Lets be honest, we aren't the best guys to judge him. Lets see how he potentially does next season at this level before writing him off as a FL player.

 

[Richard Cranium]

To be fair to him he has been played up top on his tod ever since we signed him and we don't exactly create any chances. I think he can play at this level but if you're going for the Top 7 you'll need better. Stuggling to see whether we will bring in better.

 

[daviejones]

Marriott wasn't too bad for us, came in at a terrible time as Kavanagh was still manager so I don't think you can blame him for not scoring. Left us a nice message when he left wishing us all the best despite only having been here a month.

 

[Chippy]

I seen Marriott play a couple times, and I have a mate who's an Ipswich fan who knows a lot about him. Says there's a 20 goal League 2 forward in there easily. Don't go on his wiki stats - a lot of sub appearances and had a couple injuries this season. He's a good player.

 

[EricSabin]

The kid knows where the goal is. "Uninspiring career" - he's only 20!

Knows where the goal is, absolutely rapid and a strong old boy for his height (not as small as he looks)

 

[Judge Dredd]

"Absolutely rapid" sounds promising, god how we missed pacey attacking players this season...

 

[EricSabin]

"Absolutely rapid" sounds promising, god how we missed pacey attacking players this season...

He was back in the day anyway, broke our schools 100m record iirc

 

[WAP]

I posted in the Champ forum earlier but it's likely Wallace will be off soon, release clause at 275k (don't go there).

 

[Judge Dredd]

Bargain at that price for whoever gets him.

 

[daviejones]

275k fucking hell! Why would anyone not buy him for that price. Whose smart idea was that?

 

[WAP]

275k fucking hell! Why would anyone not buy him for that price. Whose smart idea was that?

Tell me about it. Their argument is that he was out of contract last summer and was unwilling to sign a new one, meaning all we would get is minimal compensation. He would however be prepared to sign another contract if the clause had been put in place.

It's a low amount, and I hope we tried to raise it but just goes to show how much power players have these days. In a way the deal worked out well, we got 17 goals from a midfielder, we would have been relegated if not close to without him and we'll still get 275k even if that won't go that far.

 

[daviejones]

Tell me about it. Their argument is that he was out of contract last summer and was unwilling to sign a new one, meaning all we would get is minimal compensation. He would however be prepared to sign another contract if the clause had been put in place.

It's a low amount, and I hope we tried to raise it but just goes to show how much power players have these days. In a way the deal worked out well, we got 17 goals from a midfielder, we would have been relegated if not close to without him and we'll still get 275k even if that won't go that far.

I'm pretty sure you'd get more than £275,000 for him at tribunal now if he was out of contract, so unless he ends up staying it probably would've been better for you to just give him a years contract instead of however long you've given him and a tiny release clause. He must actually be worth around the £1,000,000 mark I would've thought.

 

[Laker]

We've signed Leon Legge following his release from Gillingham. I don't know him at all but Soccerbase says he played 30 games for Gills last season which sounds promising.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

We've signed Leon Legge following his release from Gillingham. I don't know him at all but Soccerbase says he played 30 games for Gills last season which sounds promising.

Gills fans loved him when they were last in L2. Good signing I think.

 

[Habbinalan]

For anyone interested, this is what the guy who works in our youth set-up suggested would be the best system to adopt for us going forward:

"1- Dump EPPP Cat 3 (u7s to u18s) and all its trimmings and replace with EPPP Cat 4 (u18s)
2- Scrap the academy under 16 and replace with community coaching and an elite squad
3- Reduce staff levels and increase scouting to find the best 14-17 year olds from EPPP Cat 1 clubs
4- Recruit a team of top transition coaches (technical, tactical, fitness/conditioning, psychology) for our 17-21 yo to make sure they convert to adult football
5- Raise our middle finger to the PL, FA and FL and tell them to stick their funding up their arse "

I think I can possibly understand the argument, or at least the viewpoint, if you are solely seeing the benefit as players into first team and transfer fees earned - especially if you are a coach who doesn't like jumping through apparently pointless accreditation hoops with reams of paperwork.

We've taken the opposite route. Management of the youth set up is integrated with our community outreach activity and getting community, business and political support for the club's development - especially the training facilities, sports village and stadium refurbishment. The perceived opportunity to engage or progress through the community coaching and all the academy age ranges, combined with outreach to disadvantaged, are all part of the marketing image to attract the next generation of supporters and parents, sponsors and investors - all at no net cost to the first team squad budget.

Oh and Jez loves the detail and language of accreditation - it's all part of the Jezolution.

 

[womble76]

We've signed Leon Legge following his release from Gillingham. I don't know him at all but Soccerbase says he played 30 games for Gills last season which sounds promising.

We were expected to sign him but looks like we lost out. Good signing! Must be shit or bust on the wages for you this year ;-)

 

[joethegill]

We've signed Leon Legge following his release from Gillingham. I don't know him at all but Soccerbase says he played 30 games for Gills last season which sounds promising.

Love the bloke, total whole-hearted defender. Not the most cultured but hey, it's League Two. Was a monster for us in our title winning season, didn't quite handle the step up brilliantly against considerably better forwards but you've got yourselves a gem there. Wanted us to keep him as back up, particularly as Edinburgh seems to favour playing 3 centre backs, but can't begrudge him a move to get first team football. At 29 he isn't over the hill either.

Good luck Leon.

 

[miagsygas]

Seems pretty likely we might be signing Chris Lines, would be pretty chuffed with that, creative and good set pieces, decent turn of pace for a CM too.

Got a feeling Adam Dawson will sign too, winger from Leicester, was on loan this season, good potential.

 

[Arbury]

We've signed Leon Legge following his release from Gillingham. I don't know him at all but Soccerbase says he played 30 games for Gills last season which sounds promising.

so the first signing and he sounds like a good one, plenty more to come though.

Splash the cash.


KTF.

 

[Wizwag]

Lindon Meikle having a medical at Newport apparently.

Newport fans need to prepare themselves to be laughed at by Mansfield fans.