Stickied League 1 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[tommytit]

Winger Jordan Graham signed on a two year deal. Don’t know much about him, but Previously at Birmingham where he didn’t seem to do much, but before his two seasons there, he had a good season for Gillingham at this level, scoring 12 and assisting 6.

I guess after Ed Turns signing on loan yesterday we just have a young loan striker to come.

 

[The Terminator]

Martin Ling *shudder*

Modern day Orient legend - three promotions - one as manager, two as Director of football

 

[The Terminator]

Winger Jordan Graham signed on a two year deal. Don’t know much about him, but Previously at Birmingham where he didn’t seem to do much, but before his two seasons there, he had a good season for Gillingham at this level, scoring 12 and assisting 6.

I guess after Ed Turns signing on loan yesterday we just have a young loan striker to come.

Wellens wanted an experienced winger and Graham will play more here than in the Championship - as long as he can stay fit.

That’s us done now, a young striker will come in and barring any injuries or silly money bids for any players, Ling said recently the only movement will be our youngsters going out on loan.

 

[White horse]

Lancashire trotter is spot on with his assessment great guy poor footballer
Played in the top leagues of both England and Germany.....Must have been decent at one time

The most damage he did for Bolton was punching a Forest Green player and Charles got sent off in a mistaken identity howler by the ref. Kachunga scored 2 league goals in 70 league games for us however he played his best game by far in the Papa John Final

 

[coronakopite]

Martin Ling *shudder*

 

[PuB]

Wellens wanted an experienced winger and Graham will play more here than in the Championship - as long as he can stay fit.

That’s us done now, a young striker will come in and barring any injuries or silly money bids for any players, Ling said recently the only movement will be our youngsters going out on loan.

Graham has a superb cross on him and will get the ball in quick, scored 12 for us at this level but created more for Vadine Oliver by laying it on a plate for him, or sticking it on his bonce to be more precise, who finished the same season on 20 goals himself.

Rather jealous of your transfer business in attacking areas actually (think we were in for 3 of them too), Graham, Pigott and Agyei should do very well together at this level.

 

[Laker]

That’s not even the best photo of him from our message board. I’ll have a dig later….

 

[AmberRich]

Martin Ling *shudder*

The worst manager we've ever had.

 

[Marked Ox]

According to Sky, we are close to signing Max Woltman on a 3 year deal. He would be a development signing so part of squad but initially a back up.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Rumour has it that Ben House has signed a new deal, which is excellent news. He's not in the top bracket of L1 strikers but has the potential to be I think, he's very well rounded and football intelligent striker for a 23 year old and he's stepped up from NL football with ease. To get 13 goals in our side last season was a very good return.

No surprise he was getting glances from the Championship this summer but the new deal, if true, will protect us and not have to think about selling him in January (if he was out of contract next summer) or in a years time if he only had a year left.

Now announced until 2025. Great to see him sigining up, hes done very well since stepping up from Eastleigh.

Another good year and he'll be sold for good money next summer.

 

[91SPP]

Shrewsbury consider James Collins return

Derby County striker James Collins is one of the forward options Shrewsbury Town are monitoring, the Shropshire Star understands.

www.shropshirestar.com

Confirmed to be Derby’s James Collins thankfully and not the Watford one. Think we’re waiting on Derby to confirm a few strikers first. Something must be close on the striker front as we wouldn’t have let O’Brien go yesterday to leave us with just two striker ahead of Saturday. Looks like Max Mata is about to be confirmed for a six figure fee from Sligo today.

The only reason we were able to sign him on a free last year is because we agreed to pick up his contract - in excess of £10k a week (presumably more). We would also need to sign at least two or even three strikers before Collins goes out.

Not saying it’s impossible but if ever need a kidney off someone, I’ll not be asking the ones with only one themselves.

 

[Luke Imp]

Now announced until 2025. Great to see him sigining up, hes done very well since stepping up from Eastleigh.

Another good year and he'll be sold for good money next summer.

With a years option as well by the looks of it.

 

[Laker]

That’s not even the best photo of him from our message board. I’ll have a dig later….

 

[geg1992]

Winger Jordan Graham signed on a two year deal. Don’t know much about him, but Previously at Birmingham where he didn’t seem to do much, but before his two seasons there, he had a good season for Gillingham at this level, scoring 12 and assisting 6.

I guess after Ed Turns signing on loan yesterday we just have a young loan striker to come.

Great signing.

 

[Si Robin]

Curtis Thompson deal agreed according to our local journo

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Busy day ahead today. We’re expecting 2/3 signings. Mal Benning, Nando Pijnaker, Max Mata, James Collins are all rumoured by different Salop fans to be down the Meadow today signing for us.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Max Mata confirmed on a three year deal. Sligo Rovers fans can’t believe we’ve got him as they think he should have been going to the Championship. They said that they wouldn’t take less than 400/500k (LOL no chance we’d pay that). Fee most likely about 150-200k. Apparently Carlisle were interested in him too.

Very, very happy with this one from what I’ve read and seen. Think this will turn out to be an incredible investment and signing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687071397234016256

 

[leedsvaliant]

Max Mata confirmed on a three year deal. Sligo Rovers fans can’t believe we’ve got him as they think he should have been going to the Championship. They said that they wouldn’t take less than 400/500k (LOL no chance we’d pay that). Fee most likely about 150-200k. Apparently Carlisle were interested in him too.

Very, very happy with this one from what I’ve read and seen. Think this will turn out to be an incredible investment and signing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687071397234016256

I'd be wary of anyone coming over from Ireland if I'm honest. Could turn out to be a great signing but equally it's a very poor standard over there, so I'd take it with a pinch of salt what their fans think. For every decent player from Ireland there are a number that don't work out.

Mal Benning is an odd signing, unless it's as a back up. He's just not good enough for this level, so if you're signing him as a starter then I think that's a poor signing.

I admire how optimistic you are about your own team, but I'm just playing devil's advocate from the outside.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

I'd be wary of anyone coming over from Ireland if I'm honest. Could turn out to be a great signing but equally it's a very poor standard over there, so I'd take it with a pinch of salt what their fans think. For every decent player from Ireland there are a number that don't work out.

Mal Benning is an odd signing, unless it's as a back up. He's just not good enough for this level, so if you're signing him as a starter then I think that's a poor signing.

I admire how optimistic you are about your own team, but I'm just playing devil's advocate from the outside.

Max Mata was Aidan Keena’s strike partner at Sligo. Sligo fans are saying that he’s better than Keena who seems to have more than made the step up comfortably for Cheltenham. In fact, I’m pretty certain Cheltenham wanted Mata over Keena but couldn’t because of a work permit (don’t know how that’s suddenly passed now though). I’d rather a signing like this than a young lad from the Premier League on loan put it that way. Excited to see how he does!

We were banking on George Nurse returning after missing 9 months last season but he got injured in pre season and is out for months once more. We never have luck with injuries. We’ve got Thorpe, Shipley and a young lad (Parker) who can play there but I think we’re planning on moving Shipley further forward this year as he was only ever a LWB due to Nurse being out. Benning was decent at Mansfield apparently so might work for us here too. Some players just work at different clubs.

I’ve always tried to be optimistic when it comes to Salop and don’t get me wrong, when it’s shit then I do slate the club. But as well as optimistic, I like to think I am a realist. We do have a very good core of players in our starting 11 as could be seen with our finish last season. We just needed bulking up and we have done that after signing a ridiculous amount of players, which we did need tbf. Whole point of being a supporter is to support your club. If I wanted things to be easy then I would just become one those tourist Man City fans.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Max Mata was Aidan Keena’s strike partner at Sligo. Sligo fans are saying that he’s better than Keena who seems to have more than made the step up comfortably for Cheltenham. In fact, I’m pretty certain Cheltenham wanted Mata over Keena but couldn’t because of a work permit (don’t know how that’s suddenly passed now though). I’d rather a signing like this than a young lad from the Premier League on loan put it that way. Excited to see how he does!

We were banking on George Nurse returning after missing 9 months last season but he got injured in pre season and is out for months once more. We never have luck with injuries. We’ve got Thorpe, Shipley and a young lad (Parker) who can play there but I think we’re planning on moving Shipley further forward this year as he was only ever a LWB due to Nurse being out. Benning was decent at Mansfield apparently so might work for us here too. Some players just work at different clubs.

I’ve always tried to be optimistic when it comes to Salop and don’t get me wrong, when it’s shit then I do slate the club. But as well as optimistic, I like to think I am a realist. We do have a very good core of players in our starting 11 as could be seen with our finish last season. We just needed bulking up and we have done that after signing a ridiculous amount of players, which we did need tbf. Whole point of being a supporter is to support your club. If I wanted things to be easy then I would just become one those tourist Man City fans.

He's half decent at league 2 level, but the step up is beyond him in my opinion. Be interesting to see how he gets on.

Years of supporting Vale has made me pessimistic, so when I see other clubs signing players that I would be unsure about, then I harbour that pessimism. We've made a number of signings that could go either way to be honest. We could have a disaster of a season or we could have hit upon some real gems.

 

[Si Robin]

Max Mata was Aidan Keena’s strike partner at Sligo. Sligo fans are saying that he’s better than Keena who seems to have more than made the step up comfortably for Cheltenham. In fact, I’m pretty certain Cheltenham wanted Mata over Keena but couldn’t because of a work permit (don’t know how that’s suddenly passed now though). I’d rather a signing like this than a young lad from the Premier League on loan put it that way. Excited to see how he does!

100% not the case

 

[Floreat Salopia]

He's half decent at league 2 level, but the step up is beyond him in my opinion. Be interesting to see how he gets on.

Years of supporting Vale has made me pessimistic, so when I see other clubs signing players that I would be unsure about, then I harbour that pessimism. We've made a number of signings that could go either way to be honest. We could have a disaster of a season or we could have hit upon some real gems.

I remember back in the 17/18 season we had players like Junior Brown, Toto Nsiala, Alex Rodman, Shaun Whalley, Stefan Payne, etc. All of them came to us with terrible reviews from previous clubs and we were the bookies favourites to get relegated. I myself thought that we would struggle that year and was nervous about our recruitment. Turns out it was the best team we had in my lifetime and the football we played that year was quality for this level. We finished 3rd and after being top 2 for virtually all season we were pipped by over spending Blackburn and Wigan right at the end. I think we would have won at Wembley too if Carlton Morris didn’t come off injured just after we scored and had all the momentum. Another example is us and Wimbledon fans laughed at Plymouth for signing Sam Cosgrove. They ended up as champions with him up top last season. Certain players just work at certain clubs I guess.

We’ve not done too bad since I started going back in 2002. We’ve only had two relegations in the 21 years. On the whole we’ve mainly been in promotion charges or mid table finishes. Never known my club to have any financial difficulties either like most clubs. Think I’ve been quite lucky on the whole. Only time I’ll be a full on pessimist is when we play at Wembley again. 5 times 5 defeats. Have to have the worst record in the 92 at Wembley I imagine. Despise the place.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

100% not the case

Apologies Si. Thought I read it somewhere but must’ve been bullshit. Think MM definitely wanted him at yours though?

 

[Si Robin]

He was a logical choice to partner Aidan this season, given their partnership last season. There was plenty of chat on our forum, and I believe Tom Ware did look into it, but as you mentioned the work permit issue ruled it out (so it's odd this is now not an issue).

Keena was always first choice though - it was because they were watching Keena that they even noticed Mata.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

He was a logical choice to partner Aidan this season, given their partnership last season. There was plenty of chat on our forum, and I believe Tom Ware did look into it, but as you mentioned the work permit issue ruled it out (so it's odd this is now not an issue).

Keena was always first choice though - it was because they were watching Keena that they even noticed Mata.

Ah I see. This is most likely a Tom Ware signing then. I’ll be keeping an eye on how not only Rob Street does, but Keena too. From what I’ve seen he looks like a 20 goal a season League 1 striker in the making. Cheltenham will probably make big money on him down the line.

 

[Marked Ox]

Confirmed we've signed Max Woltman from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee*.

*I suspect it is mostly a sell on clause but have nothing to back this up.

Edit: Appears I'm wrong if rumours are true, initial fee under £100k but could rise to £275k + a sell on.

 

[Si Robin]

Ah I see. This is most likely a Tom Ware signing then. I’ll be keeping an eye on how not only Rob Street does, but Keena too. From what I’ve seen he looks like a 20 goal a season League 1 striker in the making. Cheltenham will probably make big money on him down the line.

When people say about replacing Alfie May, Aidan is his replacement. It's why we broke our transfer record in January to sign him.

His workrate was there from day one,and by the end of the season he'd started adding goals. If he has the right partner (hopefully Rob Street, but don't rule out George Lloyd coming good) then I can see him touching 20 goals, definitely.

 

[GEORGE]

New Ownership/Investers have been approved by the EFL today. Club debt free . Money going towards team building and Connor Taylor signed today for 300K .

 

[Si Robin]

Curtis Thompson becomes a Robin

We are delighted to announce that midfielder Curtis Thompson has joined Cheltenham Town on a one-year-deal following a short trial period.

www.ctfc.com

Curtis Thompson confirmed

 

[LancashireTrotters]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1687161408381730842

Baffling.

Barnsley won’t be anywhere near challenging this season. Shadow of last seasons side.