Latest News from CP

[Daedalus]

This article is in the St. Albans Review this week: Saints agree to face Leyton Orient in friendly

Talks about the pre-season friendly again Orient, which we all knew about anyway.

Also mentions that Jake Argent, who was was on loan with us last year, has been offered a six-month deal with Orient. Good luck to the lad.

In other news, Ross Dedman has also been invited to pre-season training with the O's. Fully deserved after such a great ending to the season. I still hope we'll be seeing him in blue and yellow next season though.

Finally, the article talks about the reserves moving to the SSML, with the following quotation from our favourite chairman (No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/clown.gif):

Saints chairman John Gibson said: "It will mean more games putting more youth guys into that league. We would like to include more 17 and 18 year olds and trialists who have the potential for the first team.

"It gives us a better facility to support the first team."

No mention of what nationality these trialists will be. Brazilian perhaps? No mention of the EuroAcademy rumours.

It still makes absolutely no sense to me that a club who can't afford to field a competitive first team should also move to involve their reserves in the pyramid.

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/clapsarcastic.gif

[EFMTFTV]

We maybe in the pyramid with the reserves but my mate who plays for Hoddesson said that reserve teams can't be promoted so if we end up in Div 1 (like Bedford) that's where we'll stay

[Daedalus]

Castle Staying at the Saints according to the Herts Ad.

Very good to hear. At last some positive news.

No mention of a meeting with the chairman to discuss budgets etc. though.

It is also mentioned that Castle wants to get some players on contracts:

Castle has held meetings with promising prospects Magwood and Dedman and last season's Player of the Year Pete Smith about signing contracts at the club - subject to the club's transfer embargo being lifted - and the Saints boss is hopeful the mainstays of last season's side will remain with the club.

Where will the money be coming from for this? I take it from the Trust? Very good news if we could get those three on contracts as they all clearly have promising futures.

It also sounds as if we haven't necessarily seen the last of Gary 'Leonard' Cohen:

Regarding Cohen, Castle said: "I think he'll sign for us but he won't be available much.

"He might be able to make the odd midweek game and Gary's a fit lad but I don't think we'll see him much."

Same as the Hakim situation then I suppose.......

Finally, several new friendlies have been arranged including: Brackley Town on Saturday, July 21 and Waltham Abbey on Tuesday, July 27.

[Saint]

Wow, some positive news for the first time in weeks! Thankgod for that.

[Hatboy]

I like the response when asked about Braintree.


The City boss had been heavily linked with the Braintree Town job living locally to the Essex side but Castle said he had never considered making the move.

"I had no interest in it what so ever," Castle told the Herts Advertiser.

"I was linked because I do live local, but I've got an affinity to this club and if we can get a competitive budget we can do well."

[Aries]

I was very disappointed when last year's Brackley Town friendly was cancelled. I may make the trip this year. Is their ground near the station?

[Dr Saint]

Steve says, in HA, "if we can get a competitive budget". So he still has not had any
news in that direction from the 'chairman'? When is Steve likely to know? Some time
before the friendlies start, I hope; but, I suppose, it will be after all other clubs have
signed the pick of players, as per usual.
Good luck, Steve.

D S

[Daedalus]

May 19, 2010 18:07:26 GMT Saint said:

Wow, some positive news for the first time in weeks! Thankgod for that.

I know how you feel Saint.

It's really good news to hear that Castle is staying. With him at the club, there is always hope.

May 19, 2010 19:17:34 GMT Hatboy said:

I like the response when asked about Braintree.

I liked that too Hatboy. He obviously feels at home here. It's more or less his team which he has built since coming to the club, plus I imagine that he also enjoys his work with the youth academy. We are lucky that this has been enough of a pull to keep him at the club for another season. In the long run though, I bet Castle is looking at getting on in management and aiming for a Conference or even Football League job as his ultimate ambition. Wouldn't it be great if the club could reward Castle's loyalty by showing a bit of ambition of its own?

May 19, 2010 20:18:22 GMT Aries said:

I was very disappointed when last year's Brackley Town friendly was cancelled. I may make the trip this year. Is their ground near the station?

Hello Aries. Details of how to get to the ground can be found here - www.brackleytownfc.com/raw.shtml/club/directions.map/

May 19, 2010 20:55:45 GMT Dr Saint said:

Steve says, in HA, "if we can get a competitive budget". So he still has not had any
news in that direction from the 'chairman'? When is Steve likely to know? Some time
before the friendlies start, I hope; but, I suppose, it will be after all other clubs have
signed the pick of players, as per usual.
Good luck, Steve.

D S

Why doesn't that surprise me D S?

[ag]

"The City boss had been heavily linked with the Braintree Town job living locally to the Essex side but Castle said he had never considered making the move. "I had no interest in it what so ever," Castle told the Herts Advertiser. "

At Braintree the word is that he applied, but didn't make the short list.

[EFMTFTV]

May 19, 2010 20:18:22 GMT Aries said:

I was very disappointed when last year's Brackley Town friendly was cancelled. I may make the trip this year. Is their ground near the station?

The station in Brackley closed in 1966