In's, out's and maybe's part 3

Nothing much to talk about at the moment. We're in the dog-days between the end of the season and the beginning of the next. Those players who are to be released have generally gone, even if they are still being paid, and the rest are either going on holiday soon or have already gone away.

What news there is comes by way of the grapevine. And the grapevine is saying that Paul Warne and Andy Welsh have verbally agreed new contracts with the club, but are having difficulty in tracking our esteemed chief executive down to actually sign the things. It seems that memories of the debacle regarding Marcus Stewart's on-and-off contract offer last summer is not unsurprisingly fresh in the players minds and that they don't want the same problems happening to them and that if the contracts are not signed by the weekend then both players will begin looking elsewhere - and both have had informal offers from other clubs, allegedly. Watch this space.... No news - not even rumours - on Terrell Forbes position at the moment, but it would be a complete (though welcome) surprise if he was still here next season. I fully expect him to be a Brighton player by July.

In other news it seems that a new goalkeeping coach has been appointed, though no-one knows who it is as yet. An article in this week's Western Gazette tells us that the new guy has a degree in sports science and has also played Premiership football. It seems that in addition to his coaching role he'll also undertake some scouting. Doubtless if he sticks a broom up his arse he'll be able to sweep out the changing-rooms at the same time, or is that Stuart Housley's new job? Anyway, the smart money appears to be on former Cheltenham goalkeeping coach Alan Fettis, who ticks all the boxes inasmuch that he's a goalkeeping coach, has a degree in sports science and has played in the Premiership, for Blackburn Rovers, no less. Oldham keeper Mark Crossley has also been mentioned in despatches.

Playerwatch: Former loanees Jon Obika and Andros Townsend have finished their season at last, Spurs academy side losing 1-0 to their Arsenal counterparts in the academy league play-off final, or something. We've been linked in the press with Scott Murray (again) and Dutch defender Stefan Stam, a 29-year-old who's just been released by Oldham. Former loanee Danny Maguire is now a free agent after being released by QPR.

Sad news: Club president Norman Burfield has died, aged 90. I never met the man, but those who knew him only had good things to say about him. There's a nice little tribute on Ciderspace.