I’m not going to say too much now about the re-branding issue except that, having had a few more days to think on it, my opinion hasn’t changed from what I said in my last piece – the various statements issued by the club on Wednesday were disappointing as far as I am concerned because, speaking as someone who is prepared to give the Malaysian investors the benefit of any doubt, there was little or nothing in them to make me understand why the changes to kit and badge are necessary.
One of the things the club could do with to get the supporters prepared to stick with them onside at a time when feelings are so raw is some positive news on the transfer front. There were those who anticipated an announcement of a new arrival to go with Wednesday’s communiqué from the club, but there was nothing and, to be honest, it’s been the quietest week of the close season so far in terms of transfer speculation. Given that this is the time when club employees tend to take their holidays prior to what becomes something of a mad rush of signings around the late June/early July mark, this isn’t too surprising, but, although I may have missed something, the only thing I’ve seen about us being linked with someone is this piece regarding Wycombe’s top scorer Stuart Beavon.
Alleged City target Stuart Beavon celebrates scoring Wycombe's winning goal in their home match with Sheffield United last season with, alleged, current Cardiff City player Kadeem Harris.
At 28, Beavon wouldn’t represent an investment for the future from the lower divisions in the way that Joe Mason and Kadeem Harris did, but a record last season of twenty five goals in all competitions (twenty one of them in the league) in a relegated side is an impressive one and there is always the precedent of Rickie Lambert to look at as an example of a lower league “journeyman” who has prospered at a higher level at an age where people start to think a player’s best days are maybe behind them. However, whereas Lambert had a good four seasons or so of prolific scoring to fall back on before Southampton paid more than £1 million for him, Beavon’s goalscoring record in the Football League prior to last season was pretty ordinary. If City are genuinely interested in Beavon, then I’d certainly not write him off without seeing him play, but what I would say is that he would hardly be the sort of signing to provoke the type of reaction that the club could definitely do with at the moment.
Two things I should mention are that our former goalkeeper Lee Kendall (signed from Crystal Palace more than ten years ago during Sam Hammam’s sign anything that moves phase for a ridiculous £50,000 as I remember) has been appointed as a goalkeeping coach for the Academy youngsters and best wishes for the future to Jon “The Beast” Parkin whose contract was terminated by mutual consent last week.
So, for now, if you are the sort of City fan who is longing for something to put you off contributing to yet another messageboard thread on the re-branding, there isn’t much out there I’m afraid – for myself, I’ll have to stick to trying to find conclusive evidence that our Head of Recruitment Iain Moody actually exists.