Neil Warnock may be in his beloved west country, but the phone has been red hot in West Yorkshire with no less than four deals agreed today!
Leeds have agreed a fee thought to be in the region of £300,000 with SK Brann for tough tackling Jamaican midfielder Rodolph Austin. Austin is expected to finalise personal terms and secure a work permit before completing the deal next week.
Leeds wasted no time in securing the services of striker Andy Gray on a one year deal. Gray, who began his career at Leeds 17 years ago was snatched underfoot beneath the noses of another former club Bradford City. Gray was released by Barnsley at the end of last season and served Warnock well during his Sheffield United days. Son of Frank and nephew of Eddie, it could be argued that there is sentiment behind this move but I think Gray will be a useful option to call upon. Despite him falling short at Premiership level under David O'Leary, Gray has been a steady performer in the second tier.
Having sold Andy Lonergan a week ago, Neil Warnock has secured the services of ex Bournemouth, Rushden and Diamonds and Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown on a free. The 31- year- old will provide cover for Paddy Kenny. Warnock clearly feels Alex Cairns is not quite ready and Paul Rachubka was sent to Alfreton Town with a young development side on Saturday and managed to keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 whites win. Despite this it seems that Rachubka will never play for Leeds again following his Autumnal clangers, notably the three against Blackpool and I cannot understand why Leeds don't just pay up his contract?
Finally reports from the south coast tonight suggest Leeds have finally signed Luke Varney, yet another ex Portsmouth player on a two year deal worth £300,000?
This would take Warnock's summer spend in excess of £1.5m and despite years of signing cast-offs and unpronounceable Finnish Zombies, it looks like we are slowly getting a squad together to make a serious tilt at the Premiership!