In's, out's and maybe's part 5

With less than 3 weeks to go before the new season kicks off with a home game against Tranmere, we still don't quite have a goalkeeper. That's the bad news. The good news is that the contract offer made to Josh Wagenaar has been withdrawn by the club, with Skivo saying that the Canadian stopper hadn't responded to the club's offer in the time frame specified. Talk about shooting himself in the foot - If Josh manages to find another football league club I'll be surprised, an L1 club or better and I'll eat my season ticket. I was critical of the decision to offer him a contract in the first place, so I'm not going to pretend I'm anything other than relieved he won't be here now. To be fair to him he did have one or two very good matches for us and is young enough to improve those areas of his game that are currently lacking, but we need someone who can do a job for us now, not someone with the potential to be good in a few years time. Good luck to him and thanks, but no thanks.

Anyhow, it seems that the rumour-mill has got it right for once. Over the last few days ITK's on the green room have been talking about Aldershot keeper Nikki Bull as our new no.1 and Skivo has today confirmed that he is indeed interested in signing the glovesman with a girly name. Skivo has also confirmed that he's offered a contract to triallist keeper Richard Martin, who'll be the back-up keeper if he accepts. The other triallist keeper, former Muffer Arran Lee-Barrett, has been released.

Another triallist who hasn't made the cut is Niall McArdle, the former Sunderland defender. This presumably leaves the likes of midfielders Kevin Gall and George O'Callaghan, plus strikers Dean Bowditch and Hamdi Razak still trialling at the club; though the latter two in particular may be wasting their time as Skivo has offered fellow striker Sam Williams a contract. As well as Williams, the gaffer has also not given up hope of signing last season's loan star Jon Obika on another long-term loan. We could be looking at a forward line consisting of a choice of Williams, Obika, Gavin Tomlin and Ryan Mason next season - a very young line-up to be sure, but also a potentially very exciting one. Pah, who am I kidding? Williams will turn us down, Obika will go to Millwall, Tomlin and Mason will get injured and we'll end up with Andre McCollin and someone else from an obscure Isthmian League club leading the line. I should know by now, it's the hope that hurts.

The last bit of news from Huish Park today perhaps throws some light on Terrell Forbes future at the club - or lack of it. Skivo has announced that Stefan Stam will be team captain next season and Scott Murray club captain, meaning no formal position of responsibility for last season's captain and long-serving senior professional Forbes. The Londoner signed an extension to his contract earlier this month, today's news would suggest that the extension will only last as long as it takes for another club to make him an offer. A shame if he does eventually go, Forbes has shown himself to be a solid, consistent and dependable performer at this level.

Finally, it was sad to see the South West Challenge Cup descend into farce and chaos following the Glovers defeat against Grimsby on Friday night. The Mariners subsequent withdrawal from the final of the tournament on Sunday after their successful semi-final win on the Saturday bore all the hallmarks of expediency and showed no regard whatsoever for either the tournament organisers or supporters. A poor show from a so-called professional club which knew the schedule of the tournament and its implications for them from the start. Everyone involved deserved better.