Cheltenham Town: Yates eyes Robins life after Luke
MARK Yates has admitted that Cheltenham Town are making plans for life after Luke Summerfield despite holding out hope of securing a new deal for the midfield ace.
The ex-Plymouth Argyle midfielder has been offered new terms with the Robins, but seems set to spurn the offer and sign for a League One club amid strong interest from Shrewsbury Town.
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Luke Summerfield
Summerfield is the only player offered terms who is still stalling on his future after Jeff Goulding, Keith Lowe and Bagasan Graham pledged their futures to the club this week.
While Yates is still keen to finalise a deal for the 24-year-old, he is also prepared to play a waiting game.
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"I don't think anything has changed with Luke since the end of the season when we offered him a deal," Yates said.
"I have spoken to Luke's agent and he's still saying that Luke wants to play at the highest level he can.
"I am prepared to wait for Luke to make his decision and I will be speaking with him in the next few days.
"That's Luke's prerogative and we have no problems with that. We're keen for him to stay and we've done all we can.
"We had done all we could do a fair time back but Luke wants to take his time and consider what his next move is.
"Whether that move is to stay with Cheltenham Town or to move to a higher league I don't know but we have to respect his wishes.
"We are making plans with him and plans without him."
Regardless of the Summerfield situation, Yates is pushing ahead as he bids to strengthen the squad ahead of the start of pre-season training on July 12.
He has held meetings with players and agents in the past two weeks and hopes those talks will bear fruit soon.
He aims to have half of his expected eight recruits in place for the start of pre-season.
"There are lots ifs, buts or maybes at the moment but we are busy working hard trying to get things done," he said.
"There are lots of meetings going on with players and agents and I am hopeful that those can turn into something more concrete soon.
"It will be almost a domino effect that once we know where we are going with a couple of the people we want, a number of the other ones will fall into place.
"We have the nucleus of a really good side as we speak and we're hopeful that we can bring some other really good players in to supplement them.
"Once we get one or two players in and we know where we're going, the others will almost drop into place around them.
"We want to get three or four in before the start of pre-season training in July and we're a fair way down the line with a number of targets.
"It's just a case of playing the waiting game at the moment as everybody is speaking to everybody.
"But once the first one happens I am fairly certain that another three or four will happen fairly quickly after that."
Comments
by ALChelt
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 7:13AM
“CheltRobin...depends which ex Robin turns up,the lazt Odejayi ,who cant be bothered to run five yards or the fast mobile one which on his day was a top forward at this level,Gillesppie the focused fast make something out of nothing or the angry young man who wants to fight the world or in Vincent the fast speedy winger who runs up a blind ally or the fast speedy winger who runs up a blind alley!”
by CheltRobin
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 10:23PM
“Talking of tranfers - seems like this coming season will be 1 when the current Chelt team come up against many ex-Robins - 1st Odejayi moves to Rotherham, then Gillespie moves to Fleetwood and now Vincent moves to Port Vale.
Be good to see some old Robins faces at WR this season - just a pity they will be the opposition!! Should be quite a battle between our back 4 and Kay, Steve, + Ashley!!”
by CheltRobin
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 8:02PM
“CTFC Scout - loads of players for MY to mull over there!! Trundle thou - not for Chelt - maybe 5 or 6 years ago when he was banging in the goals for Swansea - but at 35, he's past his best and he would prob only be fit enough for a place on the bench.
Shame, as at his peak, he was a deadly striker - as Chelt themselves found out on many occassions!!”
by CheltRobin
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 7:29PM
“Great to see that Keith + Bags have signed today - the Robins did a great job of signing of getting (almost) all of last season's out-of-contract players to sign up again. As for Summerfield, whilst on the 1 hand I can't blame the guy for seeking new pastures in a higher league, I did think that maybe Luke may of signed for another 1yr (with an option of a 2nd yr) as he's only 24 and if we didn't get promoted this season, then fair play, he moves onwards and upwards. After all - we did kinds save his career from his time at Plymouth - but there you go.”
by CTFCScout
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 4:53AM
“Thanks for the vote of confidence Al!
One more name for Mark (for now anyway!) - Lee Trundle.
Available for nothing, as his former club Neath FC have been wound up leaving him club-less.
A move to Cheltenham could benefit both - Lee would have a new club and wouldn't have to 'up sticks', whilst Cheltenham would gain a proven striker for nothing barring wages.”
by ALChelt
Monday, July 02 2012, 7:36AM
“CTFCScout
All these players you mention,they play at the standard their at for a reason,and teams rarely let a good player go!!
Obviously there are exceptions but for every Stan Collimore there are 100 Joe Bloggs.
But you obviously enjoy your non league footy keep scouting:-)”
by CTFCScout
Sunday, July 01 2012, 11:37AM
“Meant to add Nat Jarvis to the released Cardiff list - a steady striker who played for Newport County last season but can he play at League 2 Standard?
Neighbours Swindon Town have offloaded Mattia Lanzano (GK), Jonathan Smith (MF), Lee Cox (MF) and Alan Connell (ST). Surely names for Mark to consider now that the transfer window is open?”
by CTFCScout
Sunday, July 01 2012, 11:29AM
“So who will Mark be looking at pre-season?
A new defender to put pressure on Elliott is surely a must, as well as reinforcements in midfield to replace Bird and the departing Summerfield.
Mark could do worse than look across the border to South Wales - Cardiff City have released a number of players good enough for League 2. Alex Evans is a sturdy defender who was wanted by Hereford but has rejected a move to non-league. Falkirk have taken him on trial, but he may prefer to stay closer to home.
Also, Ibrahim Farah is a good wide attacking midfielder and Reece Ottley has potential as a League 2 Goalkeeper - could be wise of Mark to invest here as it's unlikely that Jack Butland will return next season due to now being part of the England First Team. Another good goalkeeper is Jordan Santiago, a Canadian youth international also previously at Cardiff.
Adam Davies is a solid midfielder who hails from Merthyr and (I believe) is known to Jason Murphy. Was captain of Cardiff's Academy team and it's strange that they have let him leave for nothing. Swindon have shown interest but have not followed through with anything concrete.
Finally, released contingent Luke Jones, Yannis Drais, Mamadou Diallo, Jordan Jackson, Jordan Carter and Josh Powell would also compliment any League 2 side, and Danny Last and Steffan Jones would slot in the backline and add steel (and height, in Steffan's case!)
Might also be an idea for Cheltenham's tenants, Gloucester City, to enquire in one or two of these players should Mark already have aces up his sleeve.”