Bristol City

Bristol City offer duo pro deals
Bristol City have offered professional contract to academy youngsters Martin Slocombe and Jordan Walker. Both players are full-backs - Walker operates on the right and Slocombe on the opposite side. Midfielder Dhani Golding and striker Billy Marshall have been given until the end of the season to earn deals. But Lee Ballard, Will Gardner, Jason Haskins, Aaron Legister, Iain Carr, Joel Parker and Josh Klein-Davis will be released at the end of the season.

Johnson wants more cutting edge
Manager Gary Johnson feels Bristol City are not creating enough goalscoring opportunities after they were beaten 1-0 away at Gillingham. Johnson said: "Sometimes you can feel unlucky but in this game we did not do enough early on. "In the first half we didn't create enough chances. "It was only in the last 10 minutes that we could have scored two or three goals, but they could have had a few on the break as well."

Key duo give Robins fitness boost
Bristol City's promotion push has been bolstered by the return from injury of midfielder Cole Skuse and defender Jamie McAllister. McAllister has been out of action for a month with a stomach problem, while Skuse missed last weekend's win over Yeovil with a dead leg. Both are included in the squad for Saturday's trip to Carlisle United. However, injured striker Steve Brooker and midfield man Scott Murray are unlikely to figure again this season.

Robins boss wary of Weale return
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson is cautious over keeper Chris Weale's chances of returning this season. Weale needs to add to his two appearances this season to trigger a contract clause that will give him another year at Ashton Gate. The former Yeovil keeper underwent back surgery and Johnson told the Evening Post: "I can't see him being available again this season. "But we'll know a little more when he returns from rehabilitation."

Johnson praise for promoted City
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson was thrilled after their 3-1 win over Rotherham at Ashton Gate guaranteed promotion to the Championship. "On days like this, you see just what a big club City can be," he said. "The support was fantastic and I couldn't have asked more of the players. I'm proud of each and every one of them. "It has been an amazing season, but the players have shown terrific character right to the last game."

Keogh to hold Bristol City talks
Bristol City's out-of-contract defender Richard Keogh says he is confident he will be at Ashton Gate next season. Keogh has been offered a new deal, along with Louis Carey, Alex Russell, Scott Murray and Chris Weale. "I've loved my time here and feel like the coaching staff have improved my game so why would I want to leave?" Keogh told SSB. "The gaffer, the chairman and me have been talking. I hope to sit down in the summer and see what happens."

Johnson preparing for new season
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson is already preparing for his side's forthcoming Championship campaign but will not rush into any new signings. Johnson said: "Myself, chief scout Pete Johnson and assistant boss Keith Millen have all been on trips to Europe scouting and we'll continue doing that. "But I think supporters will have to be patient and wait until we come back for pre-season for any signings. "I cannot see much happening before then," he told City's website.

Torquay sign striker and defender
Torquay have continued their preparations for life in the Blue Square Premier with the signings of Elliot Benyon and Paul Hinshelwood. Striker Benyon has joined on a two-year deal after leaving Bristol City. The 19-year-old did not make a senior appearance for the Robins but enjoyed goal-scoring loan spells with Crawley and St Albans last season. Defender Hinshelwood, 19, has agreed a 12-month deal after leaving Brighton, where he came through the youth set-up.

Bristol City close in on Trundle
Swansea striker Lee Trundle could be on the verge of joining Bristol City, who are believed to have met his valuation. Speculation grew when Trundle, 30, was left out of Swansea's 1-1 friendly draw at Port Talbot on Wednesday. The Swans rejected a move for Trundle from new Championship side the Robins last week, and turned down a £750,000 bid from Sheffield Wednesday in 2005. But it is believed that the Ashton Gate side have returned with an offer thought to be close to £1m. Swansea manager Roberto Martinez said he knew nothing of the rumours and that he was keen to keep the club's top scorer of the last four seasons. "I'll never try to sell Lee," Martinez told SSB after the Remax Stadium draw. "I've told him many times how important he is to Swansea City, the club is not going to try to sell him. "If Lee wants to go that's another situation, but that's all hypothetical." Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown has been quoted as saying the Robins have had "a conversation" with the Swans about their talismanic player. Despite his prolific scoring exploits since joining from Wrexham in 2003, Trundle faces stiff competition for his place at Swansea next season following the arrival of strikers Jason Scotland, Darryl Duffy and Guillem Bauza Mayol. Bristol City manager Gary Johnson is in the market for a new striker after Steve Brooker suffered a setback to his recovery from knee injury. But when questioned about Trundle, he said: "I don't comment on speculation".

City boss unveils ProZone system
Bristol City have become the latest club to pay to introduce the ProZone computer system, which provides statistical analysis of matches. Former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was one of the first managers to use it. "The club has had to shell out, but most clubs at this level already have it," City boss Gary Johnson told the Robins' website. "But I leave it to (assistant boss) Keith Millen. All I know about computers is the on/off button." Glenn Hoddle introduced the system to Wolves when he was manager there - but shortly before his departure, the club dropped it as a cost-cutting measure.

Partridge ends Bristol City deal
Defender David Partridge has had his contract with Bristol City terminated by mutual consent. The 28-year-old can now move to another club as a free agent. Bristol City boss Gary Johnson told the club's official website: "We hope this allows Dave to get his football career back on track." The Wales international moved to Ashton Gate in the summer of 2005 on a three-year deal after signing from Motherwell for a fee of £150,000.

Cheltenham retain Myrie-Williams
Bristol City striker Jennison Myrie-Williams is staying on loan with Cheltenham for a second month. The 19-year-old has made four appearances so far this season and will stay at Whaddon Road until 6 October. Robins boss Gary Johnson told his club website: "I'm really pleased that Jennison will be staying with us. "In the last two or three games he has started to show his tremendous pace and ability on the ball."

Brooker set for second operation
Bristol City striker Steve Brooker has suffered a fresh setback in his attempt to return from a knee injury - and is likely to need a second operation. The 26-year-old has not played since April, had surgery in May and recently returned to training but has still experienced discomfort. "He just can't get that last half-inch of mobility from his knee," manager Gary Johnson told City's website. "He can't strike the ball at full pelt on that leg, or go at full stretch."

Brooker to have second operation
Bristol City striker Steve Brooker will need a second knee operation. The 26-year-old has not played since April, had surgery in May and recently returned to training but has still experienced discomfort. City have arranged for Brooker to have the surgery on Friday week but hope that the date might be brought forward. "The sooner he has the operation, the quicker he can get everything sorted," manager Gary Johnson told City's official website.

Weale pens new Bristol City deal
Bristol City goalkeeper Chris Weale has signed a new contract which will keep him with the Championship club until the end of this season. The ex-Yeovil stopper, 25, had been on a month-to-month deal at Ashton Gate. Manager Gary Johnson told the club's website: "Chris has done really well for us in the games he has played. "We kept him on a month-to-month deal to assess his fitness really and now he has signed until the end of the season which is an ideal arrangement." Weale has been troubled by injuries over the last 14 months. He made just two first-team appearances for City last season But Weale has played four times for City this campaign and made one appearance for Hereford on loan before being recalled by Johnson.

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