Due to new league restrictions and registration policies, FC MMIX will go into their first league fixture of the season with only 20 players officially registered on their books. Greg Austin, David Bird, Luke Carey, Des Clark, Nicky Daly, Brad Freeman, Ian Gray, Michael Lacey, Joel McBrearty, Joe Meddings, Callum Moon, Mat O’Neill, Scotty Page, Lee Paton and Daniel Reeb have all been retained and have been joined by new signings Graham Anderson, Pat Cass, Martin Compton, Karl Jones and Shane Maynard who make up the 20 although with Ian Gray’s suspension, Luke Carey’s ankle injury and several other players currently unavailable, management will still be sweating somewhat in the build-up to Sunday the 5th.
Rich Burnikell, Aaron Huckle, Paul Lowe, Mo Page and Will Wright have all also been retained but are unavailable for selection for any league/cup fixtures until their ID is provided and accepted by the league. Any potential other new signings – including Darryl ‘Darcy’ Wilson – will also not be eligible for selection until everything has been provided and verified.
In sadder news, FC MMIX have said goodbye to 3 players this week – Jake Jeffery, Saaj Singh and Dave Wood. Jake, who suffered a serious neck injury towards the end of 2009/10, looked to have made a recovery in early pre-season but another set-back has prompted the decision to drop down a division and join Stantonbury Social FC on a season long loan in the hope of regaining full fitness, getting back to his best and hopefully rejoining FC MMIX for 2011/12.
Saaj, after much deliberation, has signed for Punjab United with immediate effect and Dave, after a potential administrative error, has secured a late transfer to Wolverton Town. Both signings are permanent and both players, along with Jake, will kick off this weekend with their new teams.
Captain Joe Meddings said: “We’d been expecting Saaj’s transfer to Punjab to go through for a while, so it hasn’t come as a surprise although obviously it’s disappointing to lose a player of his ability. He was great for us and that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
With Jake, he was honest with me from the outset and explained that he felt a temporary move would be best for both him, and for FC MMIX. Hopefully he can overcome the injury that has noticeably troubled him for a while, have a good season with Stantonbury and come back to us as the player that we all know he can be.
And as for Dave… That was a massive shock. It was a transfer that was never supposed to go through as Dave had every intention of remaining an FC MMIX player but due to an administrative error, he’ll spend 2010/11 with Wolverton Town. They’re a good side and it’s a great opportunity for him, but I’m devastated that he’s gone and I know that he’s disappointed too. The door is always open for him to come back, though.”
FC MMIX wishes Jake, Dave and Saaj all the best with their new teams.
Game on.
