They will know that this week’s Europa League draw matched us with Breidablik and that should give them every reason to work hard at their fitness levels. The Icelanders will have played around a dozen league games by the July 15 Thursday of the first leg and they will be near their peak. There are places available on the team charter at a tasty £420 (excluding accommodation) but we’ll all be hoping that the second leg becomes a formality following a thumping home will at Fir Park. Prices are set at a reasonable level for this tie, £15/£5. Maybe someday that level might also apply to SPL games?
Craig Brown has returned following his spell of world cup duty in the Middle East. It seems that he still believes there is an outside chance of last season’s Everton loan pair returning to us for another spell. Until that door is firmly closed we should be prepared to welcome them back but the search to find their replacements has to take priority meanwhile. Brown has confirmed the arrival of 25 year old Carlos Gazapo from Spain. The striker has been with a string of clubs in the lower reaches of the Spanish leagues, most recently Rayo Vallencano in the third flight.
Giles Coke still has an offer on the table and his reluctance to make a commitment indicates that he is hoping for a better offer. This uncertainty is a natural consequence of the short term nature of the contracts between club and player that tend to be the current fashion. The player has every right to seek his best deal but this season by season method of running football does nothing to build settled teams.