Summer Update

There were a handful of names to be linked with the post, but a surprise name rose from the ashes. On May 17th, Paul Peschisolido was named permanent manager and ex-Brewer, Gary Rowett was named as Assistant.

Once Peschisolido and Rowett were named, work on getting the squad they wanted started, and for the first time Burton Albion became a full time team. Pesch made signing current players to full time deals his first priority and Ryan Austin, Tony James, Andy Corbett, John McGrath, Shaun Harrad, Marc Goodfellow, Michael Simpson and Keith Gilroy were the first to sign up. Shortly followed by Aaron Webster and fellow long serving veteran Darren Stride.

Former Derby defender Paul Boertien became the first signing of the off season for Paul Peschisolido, Boertien is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the left hand side, but he was not the answer to the hole that was left by last season`s Player of the Year Jake Buxton, who moved down the road to Derby County.

A last minute swoop of Guy Branston, who was about to sign for fellow League Two outfit, Torquay United meant that the defence was starting to take shape.

There was concern on who would be the goalkeeper for the start of the season. Saul Deeny was unsure if he wanted to sign or wait for something else to come along, ( he later signed with Derby County) and Kevin Poole wanted to stay with the Brewers but he is employed by the Birmingham City community team and would be unable to train full time.

Poole later worked out a deal with the Brewers which will let him sign for the team on a full time basis and be the Brewers goal-keeping coach. The Brewers also brought in current Republic of Ireland under-21 goalkeeper Shane Redmond on loan from Nottingham Forest.

The midfield signings of the summer contained some big names, with club record signing Russell Penn from Kidderminster and highly rated Robin Shroot coming in on a season loan from Birmingham City. Other midfield signings include former Stoke City player Jimmy Phillips and former Tottenham Hotspur Academy graduate Jacques Maghoma.

Former Bristol Rovers striker Richard Walker was brought in to help bolster the front and the highly rated James Knowles is graduating from the Burton Academy and looks to make a name for himself in the Football League.

With the return of familiar faces and the addition of new ones, the up coming season looks set to be an exciting time for Brewer fans.