Message #435845

[DrillingCobbler]

I *suspect* Jones is being paid peanuts. Without a club entirely, then trained with us, then signed...so anything we offer will have to be a substantial increase on whatever he's on at the minute.

Mcwilliams, well to keep him motivated, probably warrants a 2 or 3 year deal on considerably more cash than he's on at the minute.

Jones (striker), again will be on peanuts (most likely), worth a punt in my mind. Reckon he could do well next season. I one year contract shouldn't cost the club too much, he's not set the world alight but he's coming back from a long term injury, has been without a club, and you've got to go back a few years since he last went on a goal scoring run (at Port Vale). He's got it in him, case of whether or not we and he gets lucky!

As for Oliver. I really wanted him to stay but saw him as a 'back up' striker. Little did I know we'd not sign an 'upgrade' as such, so Smith got promoted in his place. I doubt a single one of us foresaw Oliver's form this season, which has been truly exceptional. Given his age, career record etc. Just goes to show. When we signed him, Morecambe fans all said he was useless, we had little hope that he would play such a pivotal part in our promotion. Got to give big fat Steve a lot of credit for seeing what none of us lot saw, including obviously our own clubs management team at the time.

Be great to see the bulk of our first choice team (not the back ups to it) stay here next season, but a lot will come down to budget etc. Id risk going with Jones and the Horse as our only two dedicated centrebacks (Harriman as back up) and get Max Dyche involved. There's two savings....Bolger and Sheehan...for starters.

Midfield - Watson, McWilliams, Sowerby. Id sign Bryn Morris as well. Good to go.

Forwards - Hoskins, Jones, Smith, Rose, Chuck. Enough there to get plenty of goals in league2, especially if Chuck and Jones come good. BAS - Loan out for 3 months.

Bring in a right back (no chance of keeping Kioso), and two decent wide players (get shot of Marshall - too old , Warburton, Roberts, Korboa, Miller too injury prone.

Id keep Mitchell but release Arnold and bring in a very good keeper. Mitchell would become back up.

Thats around 18-20 players tops. Top it up with our best youth prospects. See how it goes...