Michael Jackson Turns Up At Blackpool

Last updated : 26 June 2006 By Thetashkentterror
Terrell Forbes
Blackpool boss Simon Grayson has made two new signings for the Bloomfield Road club. Grayson has brought in 32-year old central defender Michael Jackson who has signed a one-year deal after being released by Tranmere Rovers, and 27-year old winger Adrian Forbes who will start a two-year contract with the Seasiders on the 1st of July after leaving Swansea City at the end of last season. Meanwhile Tranmere have signed Liverpool-born winger Kevin Ellison and defender Robbie Stockdale for an undisclosed fee and free transfer respectively. 27-year old Ellison, who Hull signed for £100,000 from Chester City and the 26-year old Stockdale, who previously played under Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore at Rotherham, have both signed two-year deals at Prenton Park.

Bradford City have captured former Manchester United striker Eddie Johnson, who has agreed a two-year deal at Valley Parade following his departure from Old Trafford at the end of last season. The 21-year old was also wanted by Crewe Alexandra, where he spent last season on loan, and new Championship outfit Barnsley, but Johnson feels his future lies in West Yorkshire. Brighton have signed striker Alex Revell from newly-promoted Conference South outfit Braintree Town on a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. The 22-year old ex-Cambridge United forward scored 36 goals last season in Braintree's successful Ryman Premier League campaign as the Essex club won the title by seven points from Heybridge Swifts. Meanwhile the Seagulls have not made an offer to Norwich for their 33-year old Welsh striker Peter Thorne, despite reports to the contrary in the media. Albion do expect to lose French midfielder Sebastian Carole to Championship side Leeds United on a three-year deal next week though, after the 23-year old activated a release clause in his contract following Brighton's relegation to League One.

They keep on coming through the in door at Huish Park, where new Yeovil Town boss Russell Slade continues to reshape the squad. Slade's third and fourth signings, after those of Steve Mildenhall and Wayne Gray, are Grimsby midfielder Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala and Oldham defender Terrell Forbes. 24-year old Forbes joins the Glovers on a two-year deal having played for Slade at Grimsby before linking up with the Latics. DR Congo-born Kalala, also 24, started his career at Nice in France and scored six goals in 18 starts for the Mariners last season. Chris Cohen is set to be Slade's fifth new boy in the next couple of days after agreeing personal terms with the Glovers. The 19-year old West Ham midfielder was voted the player of the season by the Yeovil supporters after an impressive loan spell at Huish Park last year. On the other side of the coin Accrington Stanley have rejected a £20,000 bid from Yeovil for winger Gary Roberts, the Liverpool born 22-year old scored 13 times for Stanley in their Conference title season, and the Lancashire club's board have described the offer from Town as "derisory." In other Town news the Glovers have a new owner in John Fry, who was already chairman and chief executive at the club, and is now also the majority shareholder at Huish Park after buying David Webb's 92% share in the club for an undisclosed sum.



Two defenders have left Crewe for differing reasons, Stephen Foster joining Burnley after rejecting a contract offer from the Railwaymen, and Chris McCready leaving the club with immediate effect after rejecting a two-year contract offer. 25-year old Foster goes to Turf Moor on a two-year deal after being at Gresty Road since 1998, and making over 200 starts in the process, while the 24-year old McCready, who has been with the Alex' since the age of ten, is looking for a new club and a fresh challenge. Nearby, at Port Vale, winger Jeff Smith has signed a new one-year deal with the Valiants, the 25-year old had initially stalled over his contract offer but joins George Pilkington and Danny Sonner in deciding his future lies at Vale Park.

At Bournemouth, defender Karl Broadhurst has penned a new one-year deal, the 26-year old being the last out-of-contract player at the Fitness First Stadium to sign on the dotted line. Broadhurst has made almost 200 appearances for the Cherries and came back from a year out with a back injury to make seven starts at the end of last season. Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has hit back at claims from striker Darren Byfield that he was not offered a new deal before signing a contract with Millwall, Scally commenting : "That's just nonsense really. Darren was given two or three offers through his agent. It may well be that his agent didn't pass them on to Darren and the way some agents work that's quite feasible. This is always a problem as to whether the information is getting through to the player or whether the agent has an ulterior motive and will benefit more from a player moving to another club."

Three players released by League One sides at the end of last season have found themselves new clubs. 22-year old striker Tcham N'Toya-Zoa dropping down a division to join Notts County after being deemed surplus to requirements at Chesterfield. Swindon, also in League Two, have snapped up ex-Rotherham winger Andy Monkhouse, the 25 year-old joins on a one-year contract and is new Robins boss Dennis Wise's first signing. Veteran frontman Leo Fortune-West has joined Conference side Rushden and Diamonds on a two-year deal, the 35-year old leaving Doncaster after a three-year spell in South Yorkshire. Meanwhile newly-promoted Northampton Town have lost their out-of-contract midfielder Josh Low to Championship side Leicester City, the Foxes having also snapped up Andy Johnson from West Brom under similar circumstances. Low joined Northampton Town from Oldham Athletic in 2003 for a bumper fee of £165,000 and has also represented Wales at Under-21 level.