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Summer 2005
With a transfer budget of only £3,000,000, Rob knew he was going to find it difficult to bring in quality faces to bolster the squad for their Premiership campaign. In his eyes it was made even more difficult when Alliance chairman David Gold stated in the press that he wanted a big name signing at St Andrews before the season kicked off, and that there would be money available beyond the current transfer budget if the right name was found.
Players In:
Olivier Bernard (D/DML, French, 25 yrs old)
(free transfer from Southampton)
Whilst Steven Hammell had done very well in his debut season for the Alliance, Garry Hay had looked decidedly less impressive when he got the chance, and in a deal arranged back in January, Rob had made it one of his first jobs to replace the ex-Kilmarnock full back. Olivier had plenty of Premiership experience, and that was going to be absolutely vital.
Pascal Chimbonda (D/DMR/L, French, 26 yrs old)
(3 month loan from Wigan)
With Robbie Neilson having failed to impress on the right just as Hay had on the left, back up for David McNamee was a pressing issue. Rob's plan was to see if Chimbonda, despite his fiery nature, settled well into the squad, and if so make and bid to renew the loan when the transfer window re-opened in January.
Kris Boyd (SC, Scottish, 22 yrs old, 3 caps)
(3 month loan from Manchester United)
Having failed to impress since his August 2004 move from Rangers, Manchester United seemed only too willing to let Boyd out on loan, though the three month maximum that they could obtain him for irritated Rob. Like with Chimbonda, he was going to have to make a bid to bring the player back in January, but he was sure before then that he would prove his worth, especially as Florent Sinama-Pongolle had not returned from Anfield.
Alexandre Song (D/DMC, French, 17 yrs old)
(£30,000 from Bastia)
Having spent the previous season on loan at Arsenal but making it no further than their reserve side, Alex was only too happy to be offered a first team squad spot with the Alliance. With a spot open in the defensive unit after Jean-Pierre Antonetti's free transfer move to Luton, Song would undoubtedly get some game time, and whilst he didn't look the finished article yet, he had clear potential.
Barry Ferguson (MC, Scottish, 27 yrs old, 31 caps, 4 goals)
(£7,000,000 from Rangers)
The big name that the chairman had asked for, Barry's transfer went far above and beyond the limits of the transfer budget that Rob had been given, but his capture did excite the fans (obviously they had memories too short to remember his disastrous spell at Blackburn). A wonderful player when he could be bothered, Rob was sure that Bazza would overcome whatever problems he had previously experienced in the Premiership and provide a real bit of class in the side.
Paul Di Giacomo (FC, Scottish, 23 yrs old)
(free transfer)
Being released by Kilmarnock isn't the greatest of things to list on a CV, but Rob saw something that he liked when the youngster came in on trial, and with Stephen Crawford having fallen out of favour, he looked a decent choice as a fourth in line striker.
Jérémie Aliadière (SC, French, 22 yrs old, 8 U-21 caps, 4 goals)
(free transfer)
Of course, Paul was only fourth choice for a matter of days, as not long after his capture, Rob was alerted as to the availability of Jérémie. Released at the end of his contract by Arsenal, the young Frenchman had failed to do the business in a number of loan deals, but in Rob's eyes there was still a whole lot of talent there and all it needed was unleashing.
Players Out:
Jean-Pierre Antonetti (Alliance Record: 9(3) apps, 1 assist, 7.17 ave. rating)
(free transfer to Luton)
Robbie Neilson (Alliance Record: 16 apps, 7.31 ave. rating)
(3 month loan to Norwich)
Garry Hay (Alliance Record: 18(1) apps, 1 assist, 1 MoM, 7.16 ave. rating)
(3 month loan to Burnley) |
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