Stickied Confirmed Signings 2023/24

[les.gtfc]

Arnold should do a decent job for Lincoln. Is very inconsistent though but on his day is an excellent player.

Will do down in Grimsby Town fokelore for being the player who managed to reduce the most grown men to tears with his goal at Wembley.

Good luck Nathan and I hope there's a local hairdressers/barbers with a part-time job going too.

As for Craig Clay, the last time I heard we was training with a team in South Africa but that was a couple of weeks ago so unsure what he's doing now.

 

[GodsGift]

Arnold has confirmed Clay has held talks with the Cowleys and is keen on signing.

 

[Master D]

We've signed Jordan Evans and Shaun Harrad until January.

We've got about a 22/23 man squad now which is surprising considering we aren't going for it.

 

[pontoonlew]

I liked Arnold but my god he was inconsistent. He always switched it on in big games, never saw him have a bad game in a big game (Lincoln home aside, but he still managed to score).

He rejected a deal here and is now in non league mind, so I'm not sure this was cheap.

 

[Luke Imp]

He's said that he was disappointed with the offer from Grimsby both in terms of length of the deal and the wage (assuming that's similar reason why Armond etc left?).

Also said he turned down offers from Eastleigh and FGR because he wanted to remain local.

 

[Imp in Branston]

I liked Arnold but my god he was inconsistent. He always switched it on in big games, never saw him have a bad game in a big game (Lincoln home aside, but he still managed to score).

He rejected a deal here and is now in non league mind, so I'm not sure this was cheap.

How many Conf or higher wingers aren't a bit inconsistent?

 

[GodsGift]

He's said that he was disappointed with the offer from Grimsby both in terms of length of the deal and the wage (assuming that's similar reason why Armond etc left?).

Also said he turned down offers from Eastleigh and FGR because he wanted to remain local.

Not buying that. From what I've been told, he saw Amond and Nsiala getting moves and thought he'd get similar. He spoke with Stevenage but nothing came of it. After missing the deadline Hurst gave him to sign his contract, he went back to the club and asked if he could sign - only for Hurst to tell him no as they had already covered his position. Eastleigh certainly offered him good money but he wanted to stay around here.

Either way I don't really care as we've got ourselves a good player.

 

[Darlofan97]

Darlington have signed Mark Beck following his release from Yeovil. What is he like Wrexham fans?

 

[Woodworm]

Evans will be great at Wrexham

 

[EnglishRed]

Darlington have signed Mark Beck following his release from Yeovil. What is he like Wrexham fans?

Oh dear...

You won't find many Wrexham fans who rate Beck. He's pretty immobile. Never looked like scoring and eventually got dropped completely. To be fair to him initially at least he did give us a bit more shape, held the ball up and won plenty of flick ons. I'm sure if you play to his strengths (tall, strong) he's ok, we just weren't the right team for him. Did quite well at Falkirk.

 

[les.gtfc]

Re Craig Clay, I've just seen that he actually played for Motherwell in midweek on trail and will possibly play for them again today in their cup game at Stranraer.

 

[Darlofan97]

Oh dear...

You won't find many Wrexham fans who rate Beck. He's pretty immobile. Never looked like scoring and eventually got dropped completely. To be fair to him initially at least he did give us a bit more shape, held the ball up and won plenty of flick ons. I'm sure if you play to his strengths (tall, strong) he's ok, we just weren't the right team for him. Did quite well at Falkirk.

Yes, I noticed that he didn't really do too well at Wrexham.

To be fair, he is still only young (22), and maybe dropping down a level will do him some good? We're going to need him to play that 'target-man' role though as we don't really have one.

 

[Master D]

He'd be in my top 5 worst ever Wrexham strikers.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Darlington have signed Mark Beck following his release from Yeovil. What is he like Wrexham fans?

The first 2 games I saw him play he wasn't actually that bad. He changed the game vs Forest Green in the 2nd half and caused their centre halves a problem and the 2nd vs Bromley where he linked with our fast striker Jackson pretty well and actually had the ball in the net but it was given offside, although I don't think it was. But then after those two games, I'm not quite sure what happened, I think his final game was in the crucial home game vs Dover, where he spent the whole game trying to wrestle the defender before even thinking about getting the ball, he also seemed to lose his heading ability that was so effective in the 2 games I mentioned.

 

[wybantam23]

After losing practically the entirity of the squad that got them promoted along with the coaching staff, North Ferriby now atleast have a good number of players (quality wise is more akin to bottom half conference north/northern premier league standard but atleast they can field 11 players).

Retained:

Louis Bruce (defence)
Sam Topliss (defence)
Mark Gray (defence)
Ben Middleton (defence)
Danny Emerton (midfield)
Danny Clarke (midfield)
Ross Armstrong (midfield)
Adam Bolder (midfield)
Curtis Bateson (striker)
Ryan Kendall (striker)

Signed:

Goalkeepers:

Rory Watson (Hull, loan)

Defenders:

Taron Hare (York) - Might be a midfielder
Jordon Cooke (Worksop/Buxton)
Jake Skelton (Leeds)

Midfielders:

Ryan Fallowfield (Hull)
Connor Oliver (Blackpool)
Simon Russell (Gainsborough)
Stephen Brogan (Gainsborough)

Strikers:

Darryn Stamp (assistant manager/striker apparently)
Connor Robinson (from Lincoln)
Vinny Mukendi (Oxford City)

 

[The_Boss]

Vinny Mukendi

 

[wybantam23]

Vinny Mukendi

I take it he is a massive signing at this level and Oxford City/Gap Connahs Quay/Colywn Bay/Nantwich/Southport/Salford/Goole/Stalybride/Droylsden/Barrow were mad to let him go?

 

[The_Boss]

I take it he is a massive signing at this level and Oxford City/Gap Connahs Quay/Colywn Bay/Nantwich/Southport/Salford/Goole/Stalybride/Droylsden/Barrow were mad to let him go?

Oh absolutely!

 

[John Still]

I see Sutton have signed Chris Dickson. He was bloody awful for us a couple of years back, will he be the main striker?

 

[Darlofan97]

Thank you for the reviews re.Mark Beck Wrexham fans. He doesn't seem to have recieved glowing reports by all means, but I'll reserve judgement until I've seen him play in the Conference North. A step down may do him some good and he's still only young so plenty of time to improve.

To be totally honest, I couldn't believe Wrexham had signed James Gray previously, but he seems to have done OK since? He was rubbish for us and even though most weeks we barely managed to field a side, when we were in administration, he couldn't get a look-in and was released. I honestly though he was destined for the Northern League (Step 5).

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Thank you for the reviews re.Mark Beck Wrexham fans. He doesn't seem to have recieved glowing reports by all means, but I'll reserve judgement until I've seen him play in the Conference North. A step down may do him some good and he's still only young so plenty of time to improve.

To be totally honest, I couldn't believe Wrexham had signed James Gray previously, but he seems to have done OK since? He was rubbish for us and even though most weeks we barely managed to field a side, when we were in administration, he couldn't get a look-in and was released. I honestly though he was destined for the Northern League (Step 5).

I liked Gray, made clever runs and worked his socks off, finishing needs improvement but he was good overall. He let himself down though before Christmas where he was caught 3 (?) times over the limit and banned for drink driving. He was our goalscorer and he ruined our season.

 

[Son of Cod]

Not buying that. From what I've been told, he saw Amond and Nsiala getting moves and thought he'd get similar. He spoke with Stevenage but nothing came of it. After missing the deadline Hurst gave him to sign his contract, he went back to the club and asked if he could sign - only for Hurst to tell him no as they had already covered his position. Eastleigh certainly offered him good money but he wanted to stay around here.

Either way I don't really care as we've got ourselves a good player.

Going off an interview Hurst gave, neither Amond or Arnold even made any contact whatsoever with him after their contracts were offered. He also said he would have been open to negotiation had they got in touch. If Arnold did go back after the deadline, then what does he expect really? There's no excuse for not even contacting Hurst, in my opinion. During the interview he seemed genuinely disappointed to have lost Nsiala who he kept in touch with before the contract deadline and he said he tried really hard to keep him. Whether or not it was down to us not budging, or if Nsiala was affected so much by the Halifax incident that he was never gonna sign, we'll never fully know. I suspect it was a little of both. He seemed pissed off with Amond. When the interviewer (might have been one of Matt Dean's 10 minute ones, he's been doing recently) mentioned that Nathan Arnold had Tweeted that day that he had deciced to leave Grimsby to find another club, Hurst almost scoffs as if it's the first time he's hearing that.

Anyway yep, as you alluded to, all's well that ends well with Arnold. Lincoln have got themselves a proven winger at this level and there were serious doubts about whether or not he could cut it in League Two. Although in hindsight, if you'd have given me the choice of Ashley Chambers or Arnold prior to him leaving, I might have revised my opinion regarding if I wanted us to keep him or not!

 

[Imp in Branston]

Going off an interview Hurst gave, neither Amond or Arnold even made any contact whatsoever with him after their contracts were offered. He also said he would have been open to negotiation had they got in touch. If Arnold did go back after the deadline, then what does he expect really? There's no excuse for not even contacting Hurst, in my opinion. During the interview he seemed genuinely disappointed to have lost Nsiala who he kept in touch with before the contract deadline and he said he tried really hard to keep him. Whether or not it was down to us not budging, or if Nsiala was affected so much by the Halifax incident that he was never gonna sign, we'll never fully know. I suspect it was a little of both. He seemed pissed off with Amond. When the interviewer (might have been one of Matt Dean's 10 minute ones, he's been doing recently) mentioned that Nathan Arnold had Tweeted that day that he had deciced to leave Grimsby to find another club, Hurst almost scoffs as if it's the first time he's hearing that.

Anyway yep, as you alluded to, all's well that ends well with Arnold. Lincoln have got themselves a proven winger at this level and there were serious doubts about whether or not he could cut it in League Two. Although in hindsight, if you'd have given me the choice of Ashley Chambers or Arnold prior to him leaving, I might have revised my opinion regarding if I wanted us to keep him or not!

Am sure Arnold will prove to be a very decent signing, also hoping the Cowleys can eek out a little extra consistency in him as I know that was one criticism on the fishy about Nathan. The Cowleys are so meticulous in the prep side of the game with players and the opposition that I expect we will see a winger that will be one of the best in this league.

 

[Gladders]

He's already proven to be one of the best wingers in this league despite his inconstancy with a few sides in this league already so I don't think you have much to fear on that front.

 

[DarkSithLord]

I take it he is a massive signing at this level and Oxford City/Gap Connahs Quay/Colywn Bay/Nantwich/Southport/Salford/Goole/Stalybride/Droylsden/Barrow were mad to let him go?

Welcome to the forum!

 

[GEORGE]

Am sure Arnold will prove to be a very decent signing, also hoping the Cowleys can eek out a little extra consistency in him as I know that was one criticism on the fishy about Nathan. The Cowleys are so meticulous in the prep side of the game with players and the opposition that I expect we will see a winger that will be one of the best in this league.

Reckon you lot will be right up there this season.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

I see Sutton have signed Chris Dickson. He was bloody awful for us a couple of years back, will he be the main striker?

Is this the ex international with top flight experience someone was talking about?
They have Dan Fitchett also though, he'll score goals for them.

 

[Luke Imp]

Nathan Arnold, by the way, was part funded by the fans using Crowdfunder, which is one of 3 or 4 main fundraising routes. A new Director has offered to double the amount raised on the Crowdfunder, so we're currently on £26,000 with 3 weeks to run on it.

We did the same last season and signed Callum Howe through it. May have done something the year before, too. Can't remember.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Is this the ex international with top flight experience someone was talking about?
They have Dan Fitchett also though, he'll score goals for them.

Two Ghana caps and top flight experience in China and Cyprus, so strictly speaking that's the truth....(plus he's played in both the Champions league and Europa league). Probably the best we can do on the ex-international bit with our budget tbf

 

[GTFCfish]

Whatever Arnold's real resons were for turning down our contract offer the fact is Lincoln have bagged themselves a player who will always turn up in big games, and yes he may be a bit inconsistent but he has many more good games than bad ones and is a real match winner, fantastic signing in my opinion and could be the difference between Lincoln squeaking into the play offs or not.