|
Blackpool have snapped up left-back Paul Tierney from Livingston, the 23-year old ex-Manchester United trainee putting pen to a paper on a two-year deal with the Seasiders, with the option in place to extend the deal by a further 12 months. Former Republic of Ireland under-21 international Tierney having spent time away from Old Trafford on loan to Crewe, Colchester and Bradford City before moving up to Almondvale in the summer of 2005. The West coast club have lost out with the departure of coach Mark Seagraves though, Wigan manager Paul Jewell appointing the former Manchester City and Bolton defender as his new first-team coach.
Yeovil meanwhile, after already losing striker Phil Jevons to League One rivals Bristol City, have now seen goalkeeper Steve Collis leave Hiush Park to move up a division and link up with Southend. The 25-year-old joins the Shrimpers on a free transfer from the Glovers on a two-year contract, and is ready to challenge the Essex club's regular glovesman Darryl Flahaven for the number one shirt. Southend being forced into looking for a new goalkeeper this summer after the retirement of Bart Griemink at the end of the season, boss Steve Tilson moving his attention to Collis after a bid for Luton's Dino Seremet failed. Newly promoted Leyton Orient are in talks with manager Martin Ling and assistant boss Dean Smith about extending their current deals, chairman Barry Hearn keen to tie the pair down to longer contracts after their success last season at the Matchroom Stadium.
It's one in and one out at Gresty Road where Crewe have signed Julien Baudet and released Juan Ugarte. French central defender Baudet joins the Railwaymen from Notts County on a free transfer after turning down a new deal with the Magpies, the 27-year old having moved to Meadow Lane in 2004, and gone on to make 89 appearances for County. Ugarte, meanwhile, exits the Cheshire club after enduring a torrid time with the Alex', the Spaniard only starting one game last season after arriving on a free transfer from Wrexham in July 2005. Hopes were high that the Spaniard, who scored freely for the Red Dragons in League Two, would replicate that form for Crewe in the Championship but he leaves the club by mutual content after an injury-ravaged spell. Ugarte actually went back to the Racecourse Ground twice for loan spells with Wrexham laast season but both times he had to return to Gresty Road early due to injury problems. Better news for Crewe is that 23-year old goalkeeper Ben Williams has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Railwaymen, after missing most of the last campaign with a bout of viral meningitis.
Oldham have responded to defender Guy Branston's comments on a new contract offer made by the Latics, 27-year old Branston citing that : "It was the sort of money you would pay a young kid." A statement on the official club website rebuked the comment, saying : "The club are disappointed at the misleading comments by Guy Branston in the media regarding his contract offer. His basic salary is six times higher than that of some of the young professionals in the team and is in line with the majority of the pros." Striker Chris McPhee, released by Brighton recently, is hoping to rejoin League Two Swindon Town, where he finished last season on loan, McPhee looking for the offer of a deal from new Robins boss Dennis Wise.