Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2024/25

[AR27]

He didn’t want to be here under pressures of last season. Since then, a lot has changed.

I see him fitting in - he’s the only NO 10 we have.

I don't think we'll play with a number 10. We'll be using 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 imo.

 

[F!RTHY]

Who’s made 607 appearances?

Clayton Donaldson....presumably, that’s who you was referring to?

 

[F!RTHY]

I don't think we'll play with a number 10. We'll be using 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 imo.

Aye, but there will be rotation. It’s another option.

 

[LS Bantam]

Clayton Donaldson....presumably, that’s who you was referring to?

No, Vaughan, a 35 year old - Donaldson, and a crock - Vaughan (averages just 20 games a season).
Losing Doyle would still leave us short, McCartan is more of an attacking mid than second striker and we have no pace up front, for me I’d hope for Vaughan/Donaldson/Doyle and maybe a young loan striker (backed up by squad filler like McCartan or Patrick).

 

[F!RTHY]

No, Vaughan, a 35 year old - Donaldson, and a crock - Vaughan (averages just 20 games a season).
Losing Doyle would still leave us short, McCartan is more of an attacking mid than second striker and we have no pace up front, for me I’d hope for Vaughan/Donaldson/Doyle and maybe a young loan striker (backed up by squad filler like McCartan or Patrick).

Forgive me for being a bit thick, but what makes you believe Vaughan is good for just 20 games?

Donaldson is fit as a fiddle and his record suggests that - regardless of his age.

To keep Doyle and to sign Vaughan would be great business.

Re: McCartan - he’s a number ten. He’s rarely played in midfield throughout his career.

 

[F!RTHY]

Wellens reckons we have a 31 year old signing any time soon.

How old is Doyle?

I’ve heard it could be Billy Clarke?

 

[Luke Imp]

Yeah, McCartan's a '10'.

He had to play CM for us earlier in the season because we had a man sent off (home to Crawley, I think) and he didn't have a clue what he was doing although to be fair to him, our CM partnership for the final 30 minutes in that game was McCartan and Eardley (a RB).

A shame that Bonne has gone, but he was always going to move on this summer, he's been superb for us the last 2 seasons. His all round game, as well as his goals were a big reason we won the National League last season. Towards the end of the season his goals dried up a bit, but we ended up becoming a team grinding out results by the end, as opposed to destroying everything in our path like we did at the start. His fantasic work rate was a huge part of this.

I also believe Colchester are entitled to 10% of the £200k.

We've replaced him by signing Conor Wilkinson from Dagenham for £40k (I believe that was the fee).

Wilkinson is talented, but question marks still remain over his temprement and attitude, maybe a run in the National League has helped him buck his ideas up, after scoring 12 in 23 for the Daggers last season.

£200k seems a low release clause for him?

 

[LS Bantam]

Forgive me for being a bit thick, but what makes you believe Vaughan is good for just 20 games?

Donaldson is fit as a fiddle and his record suggests that - regardless of his age.

To keep Doyle and to sign Vaughan would be great business.

Re: McCartan - he’s a number ten. He’s rarely played in midfield throughout his career.

300 league games (301 I think but for ease of numbers), over 15 years averages at 20, worth noting he started younger than most so he’s been around the block more than other 30 year olds. That’s not me trying to knock him, he’d be one of the best strikers in the league and the option to rotate those main three (if they’re all here) lessens any age/injury worries and still means you’d have a quality strike force most weeks.

 

[Big Bird]

I’ve heard it could be Billy Clarke?

Isn't he broken now? Seems to have gone stale.

 

[Simpo]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport...erborough-chiefs-transfer-blast-over-16532972

Abdallah making friends and influencing people...

Playing dirty tricks to force the bidding up on Edmundson.

It will all end in tears.

 

[Indian Dan]

I’ve heard it could be Billy Clarke?

Where from?

 

[F!RTHY]

300 league games (301 I think but for ease of numbers), over 15 years averages at 20, worth noting he started younger than most so he’s been around the block more than other 30 year olds. That’s not me trying to knock him, he’d be one of the best strikers in the league and the option to rotate those main three (if they’re all here) lessens any age/injury worries and still means you’d have a quality strike force most weeks.

Aye, he’s had his injuries down the years - most players do. I just feel he’s been at clubs where he hasn’t featured for one reason or the other - hence why he’s had so many clubs.

His spell at Bury is a prime example. Injury prone strikers don’t play 40 game seasons. Of course it could be a freak season, but I think there’s more to his low appearance tally that just injuries.

Here’s a stat for you, Eoin Doyle has played the same amount of games in his career as Vaughan (335) - Doyle is slightly older. Would you label Doyle as injury prone?

But I see your point.

 

[F!RTHY]

Isn't he broken now? Seems to have gone stale.

He’s had his injuries recently, but I would’ve retained him. Very good option for L2 IMO.

 

[E10rifle]

Our next striker target I've heard is Shaq Coulthirst from Barnet.

Hope not. He’s absolute shit.

I’d like Mason-Clarke if we’re raiding the beehive.

 

[The Terminator]

Yeah, McCartan's a '10'.

He had to play CM for us earlier in the season because we had a man sent off (home to Crawley, I think) and he didn't have a clue what he was doing although to be fair to him, our CM partnership for the final 30 minutes in that game was McCartan and Eardley (a RB).


£200k seems a low release clause for him?

It is, but putting that into his new contract last summer probably meant he would see the season out with us last year, obviously we was targeting promotion and it was achieved.

Its low, but he was key to the way we played in getting us back up and he started every league game.

Whatever happened though, he was always going in this window after he got another 25 goals.

 

[JJ1532]

Why do clubs in leagues 1 & 2 have such a huge turn over in players each season? Obviously loanees count for a lot but even signings don't seem to last long before they get released or sold on.

It just seems a bit weird that no one seems to keeps a settled team for any length of time.

Moomin explains it well, but I also think other reasons factor in. 2 years and I think a lot of players get bored. They want a new challenge. The chances are, the manager that signed them isn't the same one a year or 2 down the line. That makes players leave. I think clubs fortunes shift dramatically, meaning a player signed for a promotion push has been in relegation battles since he joined and now wants out. What a player was signed for might also have changed, which also a direct result of frequent managerial changes.

I think it also comes down to performance. If you are good for one or two seasons, chances are you'll be begging for a move up the leagues and why wouldn't you. And if you are average, you'll bounce around and be a career journey man as no team wants you for more than 1-2 years, as managers will sour on you and let you go. If you're poor, you'll drop down the levels and keep dropping until you reach your level.

It's an interesting topic for sure.

 

[Indian Dan]

Double edged sword. Longer contracts protect the clubs from losing a decent player for nothing, or can kill a club by said player being shite or having a long term injury.

Carlisle have gone the nuclear route by only offering 1 year deals - mad, that.

We lost Knoyle at the end of his 2 year deal for no fee. L2, in particular, is all about wheeling and dealing and praying your manager can fashion a decent side. The odd moneybags club will try and buy their way out - which often works in L2.

I’m sure some L2 club owners don’t actually want promotion as the costs spiral but with no great increase in income.

 

[Conker]

Our next striker target I've heard is Shaq Coulthirst from Barnet.

He was infuriating when playing for Mansfield, and by that I mean not good enough.

 

[Wooderson]

First bit of official news, two official bids put in for two strikers, from what I gather one is obvious the other not so.

Walker? Have to be a hell of an offer that, I’d have thought he’d be around the Forest first team picture this season, if not a decent L1/lower championship loan.

 

[AR27]

James Vaughan and Paudie O'Connor to be announced today - two great signings for us in key areas.

 

[F!RTHY]

James Vaughan and Paudie O'Connor to be announced today - two great signings for us in key areas.

The attribute that really shone for me last season, was O’Connor’s willingness to carry on. He’s a leader and no doubt front runner for next season’s captaincy.

Would be great business.

 

[Conker]

Walker? Have to be a hell of an offer that, I’d have thought he’d be around the Forest first team picture this season, if not a decent L1/lower championship loan.

That could well be the obvious one, he’s wanted by plenty of L1 clubs.

 

[Agombar stool]

Zeki Fryers on paper could be a cracking signing, but as Wellens has pointed out, for someone who will be 27 when the season kicks off, he hasn't played a lot of games. That said, he must have something about him for Barnsley to have given him a 3 year deal.

I suspect, we could be a bit of a last chance saloon for him. Wellens clearly is using his Man U influence, that's Reid and Fryers now who have started at United as kids.

 

[F!RTHY]

Zeki Fryers on paper could be a cracking signing, but as Wellens has pointed out, for someone who will be 27 when the season kicks off, he hasn't played a lot of games. That said, he must have something about him for Barnsley to have given him a 3 year deal.

I suspect, we could be a bit of a last chance saloon for him. Wellens clearly is using his Man U influence, that's Reid and Fryers now who have started at United as kids.

An element of risk as always, but I would’ve been happy for GB to sign him up.

I imagine he won’t have come cheap, either.

 

[Indian Dan]

We only do cheap

 

[AR27]

The attribute that really shone for me last season, was O’Connor’s willingness to carry on. He’s a leader and no doubt front runner for next season’s captaincy.

Would be great business.

I've got a feeling Bowyer may have already told him he'll be captain and that may have made up his mind. Fine by me, as you say he's a leader.

 

[Big Bird]

Bradford looking good to go back up I'd say. Will be sticking them in my top 3 along with Plymouth.

Going to be a very tough league to get out of this year. Salford will be strong, Northampton already recruiting well, imagine Scunthorpe will have a good squad for the level as well as Mansfield.

Then a whole host of clubs who will fancy their chances including us, Newport after last season under Flynn etc.

Should be a good un.

 

[shoddycollins]

Sounds like Devitt is close to signing for Blackpool, sorry to disappoint you Swindon.

 

[Son of Cod]

I like this argument but I also think the reason for a lack of squad continuity might be symptomatic of the society in which we live. We all spend more for convenience. I'd rather pay the fee to have shopping delivered to my door. Once I have paid to have that shopping delivered, why bother cooking it when I can order a takeaway, even if the effort of cooking would have made that meal taste so much sweeter?

Pretty sure that just means you're lazy. Although, if you've moved to Cirencester I apologise and retract that as nobody wants to be using the Tesco Express car park there.

 

[shoddycollins]

Double edged sword. Longer contracts protect the clubs from losing a decent player for nothing, or can kill a club by said player being shite or having a long term injury.

Carlisle have gone the nuclear route by only offering 1 year deals - mad, that.

We lost Knoyle at the end of his 2 year deal for no fee. L2, in particular, is all about wheeling and dealing and praying your manager can fashion a decent side. The odd moneybags club will try and buy their way out - which often works in L2.

I’m sure some L2 club owners don’t actually want promotion as the costs spiral but with no great increase in income.

I guess it's about finances. We maybe feel that by offering one-year contracts we can afford to up the wages offered to try and compete, because we'll be paying out less to players who are entering a second season on the fringes of the squad.

Not sure how often this has appealed to players though as you never hear them saying 'even though it was just a one year contract, the money was really attractive'. In theory a player like Jamie Devitt could be one of the divisions highest earners year after year just signing one year extensions over and over. Couple of problems with that though, from what we do hear of players who have turned down contracts, they would rather just earn less but with more certainty (I mean heaven knows, I would); and if these are top players with the potential to go up into League One like Devitt looks set to do then a longer contract is likely the only thing that could keep them in League Two, as we're certainly not going to be offering more money than Blackpool.

This new one-year contract approach seems to be down to either Holsworth, or more likely, Edinburgh Woolen Mill who I think are only concerned with keeping their financial stake solvent. Not that any of our current board would be banging on the door of EWM and saying we need to be more ambition, probably suits them down to the ground having an investor encouraging them to do what they've always felt in their hearts and keep spending down.