Summer News (1)!

This is the first of what we hope will be many editions of summer news during this close season. Omar, who had intimated that he was retiring this year from the 'Sports team, has been persuaded (well to tell the truth he's been threatened by various folk), to carry on, at least on a part-time basis. The big news is of course that our manager has released a big handful of players and begun to recruit one or two as well. Richard Gibson, a striker, formerly with our dear neighbours from Ballycastle Road (Coleraine scum), has signed a one year deal, while Archie Stewart has penned a one year extension to his contract as well. Now we'll just have to wait and see who follows suit.

No doubt our manager would like to be in a position to bid for Glentoran striker Andy Waterworth, whom Tommy Wright allegedly passed up the chance of signing, during his tenure of management at Warden Street. If he's also interested in Kyle Neil a gifted left-side player, he hasn't indicated, but he will probably go back to mid-Ulster, where the pickings appear to be sweeter (apples we're told). Michael Halliday has been approached by the United manager, but Marty Quinn has been linked to him too and if it's just money he's after, it's doubtful if we can compete with those big spenders. This has already been emphasised when Crusaders player Aaron Black opted to sign for the cash strapped Coleraine scum instead of United.

This makes us wonder just how dire our financial situation is when we can't compete with the likes of Coleraine, no doubt all will be revealed at the forthcoming shareholders meeting, we hope. The will he won't he sign has been round Albert Watson's neck all season as he ponders the wisdom of moving on or staying with United for another year. Our gut feeling is that Albert will leave, taking the view that a 'bird in the had is worth two in the bush' or in plain Norn Iron speak, take the mid-Ulster money, instead of the chancy testimonial money in this his benefit year at the Showgrounds. Albert has been a loyal servant at the Showgrounds and owes us nothing, so we wish him well whatever his decision. That's all for now folks, remember the old adage, the only good Coleraine supporter is, what are we saying, everybody knows there's no such thing as a 'good' Coleraine supporter!