While it’s been a relatively quiet summer for transfers into the U’s, a number of former players have moved onto pastures new. We take a brief look at where you may see them ply their trade over the coming season.
At the end of last season, John Ward deemed Simon Hackney, Medy Elito, Lee Beevers and Sam Corcoran surplus to requirements. The good news for them, however, has seen them find new clubs. Simon Hackney and Lee Beevers could face the U’s this season after signing for Rochdale and Walsall respectively, while Medy Elito has dropped a division to sign for Dagenham & Redbridge. Sam Corocan spent time at Braintree Town over the summer - but he has since signed for Chelmsford City of the Blue Square South.
David Perkins opted to sign for his old boss Keith Hill - who had been appointed as manager at Barnsley - while David Mooney returned to Reading after his season long loan spell and was later released by the Royals. He again could line up against the U’s for his new club Leyton Orient. Liam Henderson - who also appeared for the U’s during an unsuccessful loan spell last season - has signed for York City following his release from Championship side Watford.
A number of other high profile former U’s have found themselves on the move - including a number of those involved with our promotion and Championship campaigns. Six members of the promotion campaign (seven if you include Karl Duguid) have left their respective clubs over the summer. Jamie Cureton has signed for Leyton Orient, strike partner Chris Iwelumo has left Burnley for Watford, while Greg Halford has turned his loan spell at Portsmouth into a permanent deal, leaving Wolves for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £1million. Neil Danns has joined the revolution at Leicester City and Mark Yeates has signed for Watford. However, Wayne Brown - who was outstanding in the promotion campaign - has yet to sign for a club after his release from Preston.
The biggest transfer in the football league featured a former Colchester player. Matt Mills who signed for the U’s on loan from Man City has seen his value sky-rocket in recent years. He was signed for undisclosed fee - believed to be about £5million - by Leicester City and should line up alongside Neil Danns in their assualt for a place in the Premier League.
The future of two former stars with connections with both the U’s and Hull City remains unclear. Craig Fagan is still without a club following his release from the Tigers over the summer. He’s had spells on trial with Cardiff City and Crystal Palace, but still finds himself without a club. Richard Garcia is also out of contract with Hull City - but remains with the club while he continues his comeback from injury.
Bristol Rovers have been busy over the summer, and a three former U’s find themselves at the club. Paul Buckle has taken the reigns as manager, and he wasted no time in bringing in former team mate Scott McGleish. Joining him at the club is another former loanee in Adam Virgo, who has signed for the club following his release from Yeovil.
Finally, U’s legend and Hall of Famer Mark Kinsella has made his first steps into management with Daventry Town. Kinsella spent a number of years in the backroom team at Charlton - but left his role in January this year when Phil Parkinson was dismissed.
Other former U’s on the move:
Phil Ifil - Dagenham & Redbridge to Kettering (Free)
Danny Batth - Wolves to Sheffield Wednesday (Loan)
Neal Trotman - PNE to Rochdale (Free)
Ritchie Jones - Oldham to Bradford (Free)
Guy Branston - Torquay to Bradford (Free)
David Prutton - Swindon to Sheffield Wednesday (Free)
Jermaine Brown - Unattached to Chelmsford City
Ryan Jarvis - Leyton Orient to Walsall (Free)
Justin Richards - Port Vale to Burton (Free)