News emanating from fellow League Two clubs this week
Torquay United have this week issued a club statement that manager Martin Ling, who has missed the last four games, is being treated for a debilitating illness but is making some progress following specialist care. The club and the League Managers Association are both fully supportive and look forward to his return.While assistant manager Shaun Taylor will continue with the running of the team, the club are also seeking an experienced coach to help out as 46-year-old Ling is likely to be absent for several more weeks.
It was announced that Barnet will be leaving their Underhill home at the end of this season and will move to their training ground complex at The Hive in Edgeware after the Football League granted permission this week.
Last year the club had announced that this season would be the last at Underhill, their home since 1907, due to lease issues.
A small three-sided stadium already exists on the site at Camrose Avenue, originally designed for youth and ladies fixtures, which the club intend to increase to 5,100 of which 3,500 will be seated. That is if negotiations with London Underground are finalised to enable a new 2,500 seat stand to be built on the west side of the ground.
There is a 10-year agreement with Harrow Council to stay there while the club continue their search for a permanent home where they hope to build a 10,000-seater stadium.
The facilities at the Hive, opened in 2009, were recently used by Brazil as they prepared for the friendly with England at Wembley Stadium.
The Football League refused Exeter City permission this week to wear their away strip in tonight's home game against Accrington Stanley.
City, who have enjoyed a record-breaking season away from home this season, had hoped to play in their light blue away strip for the game in a bid to help them overcome a poor run of results at home that has seen them win just one of their last eight games.
However, League bosses turned down the Grecians application saying it was against League regulations.
There have been a number of moves involving League Two club’s since the January transfer window closed at the end of January such as we have seen here at Gillingham with the arrival of Martin Richardson and Ryan Williams.
Most of them are loans but some have followed contract terminations…
Alan Bennett joined fellow League Two side AFC Wimbledon after having his contract terminated by mutual consent before the transfer deadline closed. The former Republic of Ireland international was previously with Cork City, Reading and Southampton.
Striker Jeff Goulding has signed for Aldershot Town on a deal that covers the remainder of the season. The 28-year-old left League Two rivals Cheltenham last month having scored 19 goals in 111 appearances for the Robins.
Barnet have been busy this week with the arrival of five new faces at Underhill. First in was former West Ham midfielder Dominic Vose who signed a one-year deal after the 19-year-old had been released by the Hammers in December.
He was followed by former Celtic, Swansea City and WBA striker Craig Beattie after the Scot received international clearance. The 29-year-old former Scotland international was a free agent having recently departed Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone.
The Bees added three more players earlier today with Stevenage duo Bondz N’Gala and Dani Lopez being joined by Chiro N’Toko. Defender N’Gala and striker Lopez are on initial one-month loans while defender N’Toko, who has previously played in Holland with AGOVV and ADO Den Haag, has accepted a short-term contract.
Northampton Town boss Aidy Boothroyd has added defender Lee Collins to the Cobblers squad for the rest of this season. The 24-year-old was a free agent following his recent release by Barnsley.
Midfielder Lee Cox has swapped West Country sides after leaving League One Swindon Town for Plymouth Argyle on loan for the remainder of the season. The 22-year-old who was on loan at Oxford United earlier in the campaign has not featured for the Robins this season.
Rochdale have signed defender Michael Rose and midfielder Ritchie Jones on non-contract terms following their respective release by Colchester United and Bradford City in January.
Sheffield Wednesday winger Danny Mayor has joined Paul Sturrock’s Southend United for an initial 28-day loan. The 22-year-old who made just one appearance for the Owls following his summer move from Preston made his Shrimpers debut against Cheltenham in midweek.
Former Gull Elliot Benyon has re-joined Torquay United on a one-month loan deal from League Two rivals Southend with an option in place to extend the move until the summer. The 25-year-old has scored just twice for the Essex side following his arrival at Roots Hall in January 2012 having previously left Plainmoor for Swindon 12 months earlier.
York City added two new loanee’s to their squad prior to the Gillingham game on Tuesday, with John McGrath and Michael Rankine arriving from Burton Albion and Aldershot Town respectively. Midfielder McGrath has joined for a month while striker Rankine returns to Bootham Crescent for the rest of the campaign having previously netted 23 goals in 95 games for the Minstermen.