Signings and leavings

PLAYERS STAYING
STEVE DICKINSON: Staying as a part-time player
LIAM BLAKEMAN: Signed fulltime contract
CARL BAKER: Signed fulltime contract
ROBBIE BOOTH: 2 month trial contract/ fulltime contract
MATTY McGINN: 2 month trial contract
MICHAEL POWELL: signed fulltime contract
GARY BRABIN: Sign fulltime contract under Watson

PLAYERS DITHERING
CHRIS LANE: Been on holiday in the USA
STEVE DALY: Offered fulltime contract, wanted by Droylsden.

PLAYERS OUT
EARL DAVIS: Rejected fulltime contract, Gone to Hyde Fc
JEROME FITZGERALD: gone to Fleetwood Town
STEVE PICKFORD: Gone to Hyde FC
DOMINIC MORLEY : Moved to Burscough
KEVIN LEADBETTER: Moved to Burscough
NEIL ROBINSON: Moved to Burscough
NEIL FITZHENRY: Moved to Burscough & Wigan as a pysio
JAMIE SPEARE: Gone to Barrow

PLAYERS IN:
Tony Gray (striker) from Burscough
Mark Boyd (midfielder) from Accrington Stanley
Paul Martin (defender)
Kevin Lee (defender)
Joe Fowler (midfielder)
James Olsen left winger
Mark Jackson (striker)
Francis Barry (striker)
Dino Maamria (striker)

Coaching Staff In
John Durnin
Mike Marsh

Players Swap

At last some news of transfers and Cooks first signing of a fulltime player. Dom Morley, Kevin Leadbetter and Neil Robinson have gone down the road to be with Chris Price and Liam Watson at Burscough. Burscough will have a great side when they start their season.

Fitzgerald has left to go to Fleetwood Town FC and Steve Pickford has offers from Hyde and Stalybridge.

Our newest player is Tony Gray who comes to Southport from Burscough in exchange for Leady, Morley and Robbo. He was their leading striker and must be good if he is worth swapping for 3 former Port favourites. Hopefully some cash came our way too!

I look forward to some new signings and have my fingers crossed for a few players to sign fulltime contracts this week or next.

Paul Cook Southport Manager

At long last the new manager has been announced: Paul Cook. I am optimisitic about next season now, hopefully Cook can bring in some quality players and help tak the club forward.

"This is a great step for me. I have always wanted to manage and this opportunity has come at the right time."

Hopefully this is a longterm deal and there will be money available to allow him to do what he wants.

With the Watson era in the past now we can look forward to a new fulltime Southport squad.

Watson Joins Burscough

It was no surprise that Liam has joined Burscough. He is perfectly suited to the club and I am sure both will benefit from the partnership. I look forward to our pre-season game against them and wish them well for the coming season.