Another player's future sorted out

Zdenek Kroca  has today cured his homesickness by joining Kilmarnock. Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall with the signing of Beckwith?

He was a likeable chap but turned more slowly than the Titanic and was prone to regular mistakes in the middle of defence. However, he was still a decent player for this level. The Hatters will now probably look for another central defender as three leaves them a bit light in the event of injury or suspension.

Meanwhile Luton have admitted interest in Grimsby striker Alan Connell who was their top scorer last season with 25 goals in 46 appearances a goal in every 1.84 games. His strike rate prior to that season wasn't all that so if we do sign him let's hope it wasn't a flash in the pan. However, the Hatters also said that they haven't put in a bid so the 'derisory' offers received from 3 League clubs and 1 BSP club reported by Grimsby did not include us.

Latest goings on

So.... the fans think we have missed out on all the best signings and we're leaving it too late. Where is the evidence for that? Most players' contracts don't end until July so those out of contract then cannot sign for anyone else yet, and therefore their current clubs who want to keep them may still be in talks with them. Arguably the only players who have been signed  so far are those released by their existing clubs and therefore are probably not the best that WILL be available in the close season transfer window. We have tended in the past to wait until July and even August before making our bigger signings, when the better players are officially out of contract. I can't think of any players who have been available so far who I would have liked to see join the ranks apart from those who would not come down to the Conference and have joined League clubs. And don't forget, Luton have, in recent seasons, only announced targets after they have signed or after we have dropped out of signing them.

It seems that Zdenek Kroca wants to return to his native country  although the club are still talking to his agent, but Dean Beckwith will be a more than adequate replacement alongside Pilks and Blackett for the two central defender places. Also Luke Graham has returned to Kettering after his loan spell ended. I didn't think he was good enough to sign permanently. Rumours abound regarding Claude Gnakpa 's having tweeted that the club haven't spoken to him directly yet. Well that's why he has an agent - stupid boy! I would like to see him stay, but if he doesn't I won't be slitting my wrists.  He is brilliant on his day but he has been a bit of a luxury player at times, in and out of form. If he has completely recovered from his injury, Charlie Henry will be like a new signing, and at his best will be awesome in this league.

We need to be patient and see what targets end up signing. The last time we were signing players left right and centre was a disaster season if you remember.

Blackett signs

Shane Blackett has signed a 1 year extension to his contract and is reported to have passed a medical after hernia and groin in juries kept him one week away from fitness for just about the whole season. A fully fit Blackett will be a real asset to the squad but let's hope that at 28 years old he hasn't shot it physically.

Pre-season

So far confirmed are:

Fri 15     July   Hitchin Town (A) 7:45

Sun 17   July The New Saints (A) 3:00

Tue 19   July Airbus UK (A) 7:45

Thu 21   July Colwyn Bay (A) 7:45

Sat 23   July Bedford Town (A) 3:00

Wed 27 July Gabala (H) 7:45

Tue 2 August Parma (H) 7:45

Scotty's View: JJ signs

Scotty's View: JJ signs: "JJ O'Donnell has signed a 1 year extension to his contract. Perhaps he'll get a little more activity this season. He looked useful in the FA..."

JJ signs

JJ O'Donnell has signed a 1 year extension to his contract. Perhaps he'll get a little more activity this season. He looked useful in the FA Trophy but needs a few hours in the gym to get a bit of meat on him. Not the sort of meat that can be seen elsewhere in the team though! ;-)

The perpetual bull shine that has been emanating from some sources recently was proven to be just that today when Chris Holroyd, that recently very prolific goalscorer (NOT!) that Brighton released, signed for Rotherham. I believe that there may well be a few more changes in the near future as Brabin looks to get a balance squad together. We still await news of the negotiations to keep Claude with us.

I only hope that once the squad is complete, Brabin works out what his best player in each position is and let's them have a run of starts to build up some momentum.

I seem to remember that in virtually all our successful seasons, the success was based on a settled side who all played when fit, and squad rotation hadn't been invented!

Jason Walker to exit

So Jason Walker is leaving for York City. Reports in the York Press stated that he was a York City player, prompting LTFC to make a statement, which suggests that Mr Walker did not do things as the club would have liked him to!

The Hatters' statement read:

"The Club would like to respond to media reports that striker Jason Walker has signed for York City.

Last week the Club received an offer from York for Walker and an acceptable transfer fee was proposed.

The 27-year-old was then given permission to speak to York. Walker confirmed that he would give Gary Brabin his decision after a few days' thought.

Subsequently the Club found out via reports in York that Walker had already become a York player.

Walker sent Brabin a text message in the early hours of Friday morning stating that his family had struggled to settle in Bedfordshire and that he would like to sign for York.

This morning the two clubs agreed terms to allow Walker to sign for the Minstermen for an up-front fee of £60,000.

Walker will officially become a York player once the paperwork has been signed in the early part of next week. Until then, Walker officially remains a Luton Town player.

Brabin told lutontown.co.uk this morning: "I've always known that improving the forward line was the most important aspect of my efforts in the transfer market this summer.

"Jason's impending move to York has reinforced this and will give me a real opportunity to bring in a player to score the goals to fire us to promotion."

Well then Mr Brabin - go get us a striker who knows where the net is!