English Football League / Alan Dudman / 16 June 2009 / Leave a comment

Alan Dudman talks us through all the news, gossip and betting movements over the last couple of weeks from the world of League One football including John Barnes' return to management and Owusu Owusu's move to sunnier shores.

Digger and Trigger the dream team

Unbelievable news, John Barnes is back, and back in Liverpool! However, this time it's across the park, and the former England winger has just been unveiled as the manager of Tranmere Rovers. Jason McAteer has been named as his assistant - which gives us a nice line or two for future reference. Barnes is nicknamed 'Digger' after some cowboy in the eighties American drama Dallas. McAteer has the moniker 'Trigger' after the road sweeper in 'Only Fools And Horses'.

I have a lot of sympathy for former boss Ronnie Moore - who was a good man and did a terrific job there. He was sacked last Friday after the club failed to reach the League One play-offs. A fall in attendances of some 19 per cent was mentioned as the news of Moore's demise filtered out.

The appointment has little impact on the Betfair market, with Rovers available to back at [6.80] to gain promotion. Big names in lower leagues don't work, and Barnes will
be out of touch with League One, therefore I will be hovering over that lay button for some time.

Division new boys Brentford have been the biggest movers in the transfer market today - capturing Sam Saunders, striker Ben Strevens and defender Danny Foster
on free transfers. Strevens is a good player with a deftness about him - he should do well at Griffin Park.

Wotte's it all about at Southampton?

Southampton manager Mark Wotte will find out this Friday if he will be keeping his job at St Mary's. It's hard to believe the Saints, Norwich and Charlton are in League One next season. The south coast club have seen their fortunes dramatically change since appearing in the FA Cup final a few years ago. They trade at a whopping [29.00] to win the title. Could be interesting if the off-field problems are sorted and if reports of Matthew Le Tissier's involvement in a consortium are true.

Thorns on a Melrose

Stockport County administrators have agreed a deal to sell the club to a consortium fronted by Jim Melrose. I remember him as a kid - I had him in the Panini sticker album when he was a player at Manchester City.

I hope Stockport can get it right off the field as they have some good young players, but they are managerless at the moment as Jim Gannon was made redundant last month. Whilst other clubs are planning new signings, Stockport could be playing catch up. They are a team to get at and lay in the early games of the season.

Carlisle's best player Danny Graham has attracted no firm offers yet from any interested club. He's out of contract and was their main source of goals. The Cumbrians avoided relegation on the last day of the season - they are [1.40] to go down in a very immature market.

Jabo or Cristiano?

Manchester United have agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80million. I was more interested in the news that MK Dons have signed Jabo Iberhe from Walsall. The 26-year-old has always had the attributes to be a good forward, he never quite did it at Leyton Orient, and this move could be the making of him.

MK Dons at [11.00] for the title could be finding itself in the Dudman ante-post portfolio.

No Delph move

Leeds have dismissed reports linking brilliant midfielder Fabian Delph with a £4million move to Everton. No news as yet on star striker Jermaine Beckford who rejected a new contract offer at the end of the season.

Owusu Owusu

Cheltenham striker Lloyd Owusu has joined Adelaide United in Australia. Strictly speaking Cheltenham are now a League Two side and shouldn't be in this summer catch-up, but his goals kept Brighton up, and he turned them down in favour of a move to Oz.

He's a very good DJ apparently too. So we have something in common - as I too have been to Australia. And no more we will hear the cries of 'Owusu Owusu', which I loved when he was at Brentford.

Jacket required

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett has signed a new three-year deal at the New Den. Having sorted out new contracts for Gary Alexander, Neil Harris, Alan Dunne and Andy Frampton, the Lions are rock solid at the moment and trade at [4.60] to go one better than last season and get promoted.

Blooming marvellous

Major news in Brighton! I remember scoring a century there playing cricket. Anyway, the Albion have unveiled a new multi-millionaire chairman in the shape of Tony Bloom. He'll be funding the cost of the new Falmer Stadium as the club bid farewell to former supremo Dick Knight - who was with the Seagulls for 12 years.

Myself and multi-millionaire Tony Bloom have nothing in common.