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Speaking to the Vice Presidents Club AGM this evening, Graham Turner reported that 25 players were in for training today.
Their number included Chris Zebroski and Theo Robinson, while Turner added that he had made an offer to a 29 year old with some Premiership experience and hoped to seal the deal on Thursday.
Responding to questions Turner noted that the Andy Williams fee was £100,000 up front with clauses to take it up as far as £150,000, adding that the fee was available for players' wages or a transfer fee. He mentioned goalkeeper Adam Colin, on trial from Workington, would require a fee if he sufficiently impressed. On the goalkeeping front he also confirmed the continued employment of Pat Mountain as a part-time goalkeeping coach.
Turner also re-iterated his attempts to lure a 33 year old full international to the club as player-coach when asked about the coaching positions at the club, suggesting that there were no further targets for the role. He greatly praised John Trewick's work both on the coaching staff and helping with repairs and maintenance around the ground.
He also confirmed that he had made an approach to former Cardiff defender Rhys Weston, who later signed for Walsall, and that he had made Rob Purdie 'the best offer I could' to stay at the club. Following another question Turner confirmed his intentions to play a 4-4-2 formation with pace a requirement, adding that an unnamed 'lad from Derby' was a likely candidate for a wing position.
Up front he envisaged Steve Guinan, the holding striker, being assisted by pace men Zebroski and Robinson with a fourth striker likely to be similar to Guinan. On the subject of so many players leaving the club and the rumours of unrest in the camp, Turner's response was 'I feel we have cut out the cancer'.
On VP Club business, the club reported that it donated £49,627 to the parent club for the year ending 31st May - a record donation and £18,000 up on last season's total. Matthew White remained as Chairman, with Richard Howard as Vice Chairman and Veronica Richardson as Secretary. Tony Cole remains as Treasurer despite announcing his intentions to resign 12 months ago. Five new Committee members were elected in, bringing the Committee into double figures for the first time in around ten years.