Bristol City

Bristol City
Striker Marcus Stewart has revealed he wants to sign for League One side Bristol City after being released by Premiership new boys Sunderland. Stewart, 32, started his career at Bristol Rovers but is looking for a new club after being released. "I dont want to give too much away but I want to go to City, it's the club I loved as a kid," Stewart told the BBC. "They will always have a piece of my heart, so hopefully something will happen this summer but we'll see."

City still hope to recruit coach
Bristol City manager Brian Tinnion has reiterated his desire to bring in an experienced coach for next season. City failed in a bid to lure ex-England boss Graham Taylor in March and Tinnion told BBC Radio Bristol: "We have an inexperienced first-team staff. "The people we want are in jobs but if that situation changes, which hopefully it might, we'll see if we can do it. "I'm trying to improve everything at the club - we need another experienced coach on the training pitch."

City deny Reading move for Lita
Bristol City and Reading have denied newspaper reports that the Royals have made a £1m bid for striker Leroy Lita. City's chief executive Colin Sexstone told BBC Radio Bristol: "There was a very informal inquiry from Reading, probably three weeks ago. "We never received a formal written offer from Reading." Reading chief Executive Nigel Howe said: "Leroy Lita is a very good prospect and clubs are looking at him but we have not made a bid for him."

Goalkeeper Stowell to quit City
Mike Stowell has decided to leave Bristol City and turn down the role of goalkeeping coach at Ashton Gate. Stowell, 40, was not offered a new playing contract by the club. The veteran moved to Ashton Gate on a free transfer from Wolves in 2001 and made 29 appearances during his four year stay in Bristol. City manager Brian Tinnion told the club website: "He's agreed to join another club, who he didn't name, in a higher division."

City targeting midfielder Russell
Bristol City boss Brian Tinnion would like to sign Torquay's out-of-contract midfielder Alex Russell. The 32-year-old has said he does not want to drop down to League Two after the Gulls were relegated. "I have spoken to Alex. He's a good professional and leads by example," Tinnion told the club's website. "I know there are four other clubs in our division speaking to him and three more in the division below, so we are not about to sign him."

Aberdeen pull out of Miller race
Aberdeen have withdrawn their offer for Lee Miller, leaving Dundee United as the frontrunners for the Bristol City striker's signature. The Dons gave Miller, 22, a Monday deadline of 1500 BST to agree terms but did not get a positive response. Miller has already rejected an offer from Hearts, where he spent the second half of the season on loan, and United recently revealed their interest. Aberdeen and Hearts had both agreed a fee of around £250,000 with City. Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller said: "I have a criteria laid down and part of that criteria is to bring in players who want to play for the club. "The reason I have pulled the plug on Lee is that I didn't feel he was 100% committed in wanting to come to Aberdeen. "I feel we had given him plenty of time to make up his mind and now we are turning our attentions to others on our list." Aberdeen are now expected to pursue either Kilmarnock's Kris Boyd or Steve Lovell from Dundee. Tannadice manager Gordon Chisholm is keen on the player, who is in the Scotland squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Belarus. "I worked with Lee at Falkirk and know all about his ability," said Chisholm before Saturday's Scottish Cup final. "We've not made any bid because we've been too busy preparing for the final, but he is definitely a player I admire."

Smith eyes central midfield role
Bristol City new-boy Grant Smith says he hopes to carve out a place in the centre of the team's midfield. The 25-year-old has signed a two-year pre-contract agreement at Ashton Gate, which comes into effect on 1 July when his contract at Swindon Town expires. He told BBC Radio Bristol: "My favourite position is centre midfield and obviously I've spoken to the gaffer about it so hopefully I'll be centre. "I've played at left-back and filled in but I'd rather play in the middle."

Port Vale complete Dinning swoop
Port Vale have completed the signing of Bristol City midfielder Tony Dinning. The 30-year-old ended the season on loan at Vale Park and has agreed a deal after reaching a settlement on the remainder of his City contract. Dinning started just 10 games for the Robins after signing from Wigan Athletic last December following a successful loan spell. The former Stockport and Wolves player follows another former loanee Danny Sonner in joining Vale.

Russell agrees Bristol City move
Alex Russell admitted Bristol City's size and potential was the reason he agreed to join the club on a Bosman. The 32-year-old will officially join the Robins on a two-year deal when his Torquay contract expires on 1 July. The midfielder told City's website: "It is the right move at the right time for me and (City manager) Brian Tinnion didn't have to sell the club to me. "You can't be happy with mid-table at a club like this aand the best way to get success is if you push for the top."

Heywood agrees Bristol City deal
Bristol City have agreed personal terms to sign Swindon Town defender Matt Heywood, reports BBC Radio Bristol. Heywood, 25, passed a medical at Ashton Gate and will put pen to paper on a three-year contract on 1 July after his County Ground deal expires. It is City's third Bosman-free capture of the week, following the signings of Grant Smith and Alex Russell. They still hope to sign former Bristol Rovers striker Marcus Stewart next week and have held talks with him.

Russell has Rosenior's blessing
Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior is convinced midfielder Alex Russell will be a hit at Bristol City. Russell left Plainmoor on a free transfer following Torquay's agonising last-day relegation. Rosenior told the Gulls' website: "He would have gone even if we had stayed up, he deserves to play for a big club. "I'm absolutely delighted he's gone to a bigger club, I tell all my players they should be ambitious and want to play for a bigger club." Peterborough owner Barry Fry claimed Russell turned down a chance to join Posh in favour of joining Bristol City. Fry offered Russell a "big offer" to become new boss Mark Wright's first signing since his appointment. The Posh owner said: "Mark identified Alex as a player he desperately wanted to bring to the club. "We both spoke to him last weekend but Alex decided to accept another offer from Bristol City."

Dundee United clinch Miller deal
Dundee United have completed the signing of Lee Miller from Bristol City for a fee of £225,000. The striker, who spent the latter part of the season on loan at Hearts, has signed a three-year deal. Both Hearts and Aberdeen had offers for the player accepted but Miller turned those clubs down and has finally signed on at Tannadice. United manager Gordon Chisholm told the club's website: "He is exactly the type of player that I think we need." The 22-year-old scored 11 goals in 23 games for Hearts after falling out of favour at Bristol. Chisholm added: "He is a player I know very well from our time together at Falkirk. "He will provide us with a different option going forward and, I believe, add value to the squad." Chairman Eddie Thompson added: "Gordon and I met earlier this week to discuss strengthening the squad and Lee Miller was right at the top of our list. "I am sure that his capture, in the face of strong competition, is exciting news for the club, our supporters and the season ahead."

Tinnion wants to offer Coles deal
Bristol City boss Brian Tinnion wants to offer a new deal to Danny Coles. The 23-year-old defender, who is under contract until 2007, was placed on the transfer list in February - but the Robins received no "concrete bids". Tinnion told the club website: "We're looking towards a new contract, rather than looking at losing him. "His form at the end of the season was excellent - when he plays like that, he is a very good player at this level. Hopefully we can get an extension." Meanwhile, City have called a news conference for Monday at 1000 BST to announce a "major new signing" - thought to be ex-Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart, who has recently held talks with the Ashton Gate club.

Stewart agrees Bristol City move
Striker Marcus Stewart has fulfilled a boyhood dream by joining Bristol City on a two-year deal. The 32-year-old, who began his career at Bristol Rovers, will move to his hometown club on 1 July when his deal with Premiership-bound Sunderland ends. "I will now be playing for the team I loved as a kid," Stewart told the club's official website. "I didn't speak to anybody else because I made my mind up halfway through last season that I wanted to come to City." Stewart scored 17 goals last season to help Sunderland to the Championship title but was then told by manager Mick McCarthy his contract would not be renewed. "I didn't speak to any other club because I would have been wasting their time," he added. "The manager and the chairman wanted me and I'm delighted to be here. "I supported them as a kid and I still support them now."

City want striker Lita to stay on
Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown insists the signing of Marcus Stewart does not mean Leroy Lita will be sold. The England under-21 striker has one year left on his contract but City are confident the 20-year-old will agree a new deal before the end of the month. Lansdown told BBC Radio Bristol: "He wants to be at this club and wants to try and get us into the Championship. "I can't say he will never leave this club - but if Leroy moves it will be to the Premiership for big money."

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