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Greetings. - so I only found out about the open day this morning and happily I'm in town so I'm going to head up! Dunno if any of you lot will be about but if you are let me know and I'll say hi.

Where are you sitting for the forum?

Matt.

He's a Yank now so it will be on his fat arse

Southampton Gull wrote:He's a Yank now so it will be on his fat arse

Bitch =D

Just a couple of things from the Fans Forum this afternoon. Knill confirmed that the Manset deal is dead. He said we were in for him, but that he never really seemed like he was genuinely set on coming to us. He glossed over the other Frenchman, pointedly.

Bill Phillips suggested that the next couple of years will see slower off-field growth, since we're in the process of paying off things like the training ground developments and the off bits from the Bench. I guess this will depend upon how well we do in the various cups. Bill is keen to get us on TV at least once this season, although this is somewhat out of our hands.

Knilly is acutely aware that we are short of a striker. He is trying to get someone in, we have a few irons in a few fires, but we needn't expect anything necessarily before the first game of the season.

He addressed, at length, the issue of getting players to the area. He's offering them first team football and a beautiful setting to entice them down, even on low wages. It seems that players these days are expecting silly money (two grand a week in L2) and are playing a dangerous game.

Cooper deal is dead. Knilly liked him, lots, but was concerned by his size and the fact that he's not a specialist defender. He liked him as a player and a bloke and would recommend him to any other manager looking for that type of utility player. He also seemed to be quibbling over a hundred quid and Knill refused to be dealt with in that manner.

Knilly is looking to develop players into saleable assets. That's part of his recruitment process, finding players who will be"better than Torquay United".

We are at the point where we are constrained by budget. He likes Deamon and Pearce, but he's not sure he can afford both. Pearce is a first choice, and has taken a massive wage cut to come to us on the promise that he will play. Expect, therefore, to see him on the teamsheet more often than not.

Likes the idea of developing youth players and bringing them through. He's delighted that Preece (or whatever his name is) hasn't gone to Villa, because it gives him another option to bring through into the first team.

That was basically it. There are a couple of odd things that I've forgotten, but nothing vitally important.

Matt.

Thanks for the summary Matt

No striker before next week? That'll go down well with the masses...

Got to be honest, it's a bit concerning that we're struggling that much to identify and entice a suitable target.

Also, seems a strange decision to trial Daemon, if the budget has already been used on Pearce. Assuming Pearce is a done deal?

Don't think for one moment it's a case AK is struggling to identify a striker target or even entice them down here. reading between the lines as Matt posts more of a case players are asking for to much money.

If push comes to the shove I would imagine AK will go for a loan signing, where there will be no concern about pre-season as any player going out on loan would have had that with their parent club.

And just one other point, thought my confusion had been cleared up yesterday, the player on trial is/was Jack Deaman.

Sorry to be boring but I keep suggesting Portuguese players many of whom are earning very low wages, many of whom do speak English, who would be well up to League 2 standard and better.

Many are from South America, particularly Brazil, plus loads of African players who are physically very strong and good on the ball.

A lot of Portuguese clubs are in areal mess financially and I am sure Alan Knill could find a few little gems if he was inclined to look.

I promise you there is a lot of talent in Portugal a two hour flight from Exeter!!

,

Thanks for the update matt I was hoping someone would feed back with some bullet points as I was unable to attend.

Did the squad do a training session too ?

Cheers Matt.

Impressive stuff from AK overall although i'm disappointed with the striker situation a little but we can shove Downsey and Harding up for corners and free kicks I suppose and we might not lose out too much. Funny about the Cooper thing, well done Knilly but he should also have told him to f*ck off!

Who ever heard of a top team hopeing their center backs might score,Cooper is creative,he is a footballer and justifys the money,now we are looking for a bit of luck from free kicks and corners.

Was kinda hoping that Knill might be able to reassure us that he would have a striker, or two, in before next Saturday but he was unable to offer any guarantees. It sounded as though he is looking for an older experienced 30 something striker on a permanent basis together with a youngster in on loan. On the subject of the young loanee, he said that he had had various promises made to him by the parent club that they would let us have the player concerned but that, as is often the norm, they wanted to work with him through pre season, and until he was in the building there was no guarantee that he would get his man and so he has to remain patient but hopeful. No names mentioned, but wouldn't be surprised if young Stockley at AFCB was the target.

Pleased to hear that he at least tried for Manset, but he said that from the outset he didn't feel confident of getting his signature. Apparently his agent came back to him and said a French club had offered him (Manset) more and then the next thing he knows he has gone on trial with Coventry ... even though, as things stand, they can't sign him because of the transfer embargo they are under. Either way, it doesn't seem likely that he will be joining us - but nevertheless, nothing ventured, nothing gained and it is pleasing to hear that we are at least looking at players of his pedigree.

As for young Deaman, he likes what he has seen and heard about him so far, but ultimately it will all be down to what, if anything, is left in the budget once the two (hopefully) strikers are added.

The club also confirmed that young Liam Prynn has returned from his (in effect) two week "trial" at Aston Villa having failed to settle there. It was unfortunate as the money (£50k) had been earmarked as going towards the Training ground improvements and it sounds as though Thea B has recently stepped in with financial support once again. Bill Phillips estimated that the final bill for the works done at Seale Hayne will run to around £200k in total. The club needs now "to take a breath" as resources are stretched what with repaying loans on Bristows Bench, as well as improving Seale Hayne, whilst at the same time having to continue to pay Messrs Ling & Taylor's contracts ..... but hopefully in a year or two they will be clear of all this. In the meantime they remain hopeful that the Training Ground work will be nearing completion by the end of the year.

PS It was also good to catch up with our new numer 99 ... shame about the penalty though!!!

French, your assessment of the team is grossly unfair. To suggest that our not signing Cooper basically means that our scoring any goals at all is down to the will of God Almighty and Divine Intervention from corners is NASA level daft.

Scott, we have some money left in the kitty, it's ok, it's just that we can't pay Deaman silly money. If he impresses enough to get an offer (as CP pointed out, Knill seems impressed with him so far), then the offer will be limited to whatever fair, but not excessive salary we can offer (think 700-800/week). If he demands £1500/week and won't budge, then he will be catching the last train to Clarksville in the hope of that sort of deal elsewhere.

Super, I missed the early element of the day, but it seems the players did a penalty shootout. I'm offering prizes for anyone not in attendance who can tell me who won it.

Matt.

ferrarilover wrote:French, your assessment of the team is grossly unfair. To suggest that our not signing Cooper basically means that our scoring any goals at all is down to the will of God Almighty and Divine Intervention from corners is NASA level daft.

Scott, we have some money left in the kitty, it's ok, it's just that we can't pay Deaman silly money. If he impresses enough to get an offer (as CP pointed out, Knill seems impressed with him so far), then the offer will be limited to whatever fair, but not excessive salary we can offer (think 700-800/week). If he demands £1500/week and won't budge, then he will be catching the last train to Clarksville in the hope of that sort of deal elsewhere.

Super, I missed the early element of the day, but it seems the players did a penalty shootout. I'm offering prizes for anyone not in attendance who can tell me who won it.

Matt.

Which Scott are you talking to here? I wasn't aware that I raised any concerns....