Burton Albion

Burton Albion
Burton defender Barry Miller is keen to stay with the Brewers next season. Miller, 29, has not been offered a new deal by Brewers manager Nigel Clough, but is looking to play on a non-contract basis. "Barry wants to come back in pre-season and fight for a place in the squad," Clough told the Burton Mail. Former Oldham striker Craig Dudley will also be back at Burton on similar terms, while the future of midfielder Sam Shilton is still to be decided.

Conference increases loan quotas
The Conference has increased the number of loan players clubs can use next season after the enforced introduction of the transfer window system. Clubs can register four short-term and four long-term loan players and can play five loan players in a game. Clubs can also sign a keeper for a minimum period of seven days outside the transfer window if they do not have a registered keeper available. The changes are being brought in to soften the blow of the transfer window.

Burton set for tough pre-season
Burton boss Nigel Clough has planned a new pre-season regime in a bid to get his side fit for the new campaign. The Brewers are one of the dwindling number of part-time teams in the Conference but will train almost every day for a fortnight from next week. "The lads will get a day off, but basically we'll be full-time for two weeks," Clough told the Burton Mail. "This is a step that will help to bridge the gap between us and the full-time clubs."

Burton set to sign winger Gilroy
Burton are set to sign former Darlington and Scarborough winger Keith Gilroy on a two-year deal. Gilroy, 21, will become Brewers boss Nigel Clough's first summer recruit subject to passing a medical next week. "We're delighted a player of Keith's calibre has agreed to join - he'll give us more quality and creativity," Clough told the Burton Mail. Gilroy spent two years at Scarborough before joining Darlington for a short spell at the end of last season. However, he was released after only making two appearances for the Quakers.

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Watkiss snaps up three new faces
Kidderminster manager Stuart Watkiss has completed his first three new signings as the Harriers prepare for life back in the Conference. Defenders Daryl Burgess, 34, and Wayne Evans, 33, have both agreed 12-month deals after being released by Rochdale. Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Laurie Wilson, 20, has also signed a 12-month contract after leaving Burton. Kidderminster have also been boosted by the news that defender Mark Jackson has agreed to stay with the club.

Bury sign up midfielder Sedgemore
Bury have beaten Burton Albion in the fight to sign former Shrewsbury Town midfielder Jake Sedgemore. Brewers boss Nigel Fairclough had hoped that Sedgemore would link up with the club for pre-season training. However, the 26-year-old has instead signed a 12-month contract at Gigg Lane to remain in the Football League. Bury have also signed former Blackburn Rovers defender John Fitzgerald, 20, on a two-year deal following a successful loan spell last season.

Halifax 1-0 Burton Albion
Gary Brabin scored the only goal as Halifax beat Burton. The Shaymen had the better of a lacklustre first half in which Ryan Sugden shot over and Brewers' Daniel Crane saved from Brabin's header. Halifax stepped on the gas after the break as Crane saved a Lewis Killeen effort, while Peter Atherton shot over. Then in the 71st minute Brabin fired home a long-range free-kick after he had been fouled by Darren Stride, and later Andrew Corbett hit the woodwork. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Halifax: Dunbavin, Young, Ingram, Atherton, Haslam, Brabin, Foster, Midgley (Senior 61), Killeen (Thompson 78), Grant, Sugden (Bowler 67). Subs Not Used: Doughty, Butler. Booked: Brabin, Foster. Goals: Brabin 71. Burton Albion: Crane, Corbett, Tinson, Webster, Henshaw, Gilroy (Hall 83), Ducros (Clough 58), Stride, Todd, Harrad, Shaw (Anderson 62). Subs Not Used: Austin, Graves. Booked: Webster, Clough. Att: 1,681. Ref: R Hewitt (Scarbrough).

Woking 2-2 Burton Albion
Craig McAllister and Ian Selley scored late goals as Woking scraped a draw. Nigel Clough's visitors were in command as Jon Shaw latched on to Andy Todd's cross from the left and slotted home. Keith Gilroy set up the second, crossing for Shaun Harrad to send a header into the corner of the net past Woking keeper Shwan Jalal. McAllister fired in a late strike before Albion defender Aaron Webster handled in the area and Selley stepped up to score from the ensuing penalty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Woking: Jalal, Jackson, El-Salahi, MacDonald, Reed, Blackman, Smith (McAllister 65), Selley, Evans, Richards, Ferguson (Rawle 82). Subs Not Used: Liam Cockerill, Davies, Ruby. Booked: Blackman, Selley. Goals: McAllister 86, Selley 90 pen. Burton Albion: Crane, Henshaw, Webster, Tinson, Corbett, Stride, Ducros, Todd (Anderson 62), Gilroy (Hall 84), Shaw (Graves 79), Harrad. Subs Not Used: Austin, Clough. Booked: Corbett, Stride. Goals: Shaw 10, Harrad 32. Att: 1,692 Ref: M Mullarkey (Devon).

Aldershot boss makes triple swoop
Aldershot boss Terry Brown has made a triple swoop ahead of the Conference's first transfer window deadline. Experienced former Barnet and Rochdale centre-back Greg Heald, 33, has penned a one-year deal after a recent non-contract spell at Burton. Winger Ryan Williams, 27, has moved to the Recreation Ground on a month's loan from Bristol Rovers. Meanwhile, young Northampton striker Matt Gearing has agreed a season-long loan deal with the Shots.

Clough will let Hall go on loan
Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough is prepared to let winger Chris Hall leave the Pirelli Stadium on loan. Hall, 23, is yet to start a game this season and has been told, along with striker Eric Graves, that he can leave for a spell of first-team football. "It's no slight on Chris that he hasn't been able to get into the line-up," Clough told the Evening Telegraph. "But we don't like to have lads sitting around not playing. If Chris wants a month on loan, he can have one."

Cambridge Utd 2-2 Burton Albion
Keith Gilroy earned Burton a point with a late header in an entertaining draw with fellow strugglers Cambridge. The visitors took the lead after 11 minutes when Dale Anderson fired into the top left-hand corner after Chris Hall fashioned the chance. The home side equalised in first-half injury time when Fola Onibuje headed home Ritchie Hanlon's long ball. Courtney Pitt put Cambridge ahead on 66 minutes with a long range effort, before Gilroy equalised on 70 minutes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cambridge Utd: Howie, Gleeson, Davies, Peters, Okai, Smith, Bridges, Hanlon, Pitt (Quinton 87), Onibuje (Atkins 82), Westcarr. Subs Not Used: Duncan, Angel, Turner. Booked: Westcarr, Pitt, Bridges. Goals: Onibuje 46, Pitt 66. Burton Albion: Crane, Corbett, Tinson, Austin, Webster, Hall, Stride, Ducros, Gilroy (Todd 71), Anderson, Shaw. Subs Not Used: Henshaw, Harrad, Graves, Clough. Booked: Corbett. Goals: Anderson 11, Gilroy 70. Att: 2,298 Ref: A Raynor (Loughborough).

Austin clear to make swift return
Burton Albion have allayed fears that defender Ryan Austin is facing a spell out with a broken bone in his foot. Austin was injured in last Saturday's win over Stevenage Borough but has been told he has only suffered bruising. "It was serious enough for us to want a second opinion. We were able to arrange an X-ray that gave the all-clear," club phsyio Matt Brown told the Burton Mail. Meanwhile, Albion hope Lee Ayres will return to action before Christmas from a long-term pelvic injury.

Burton to host Man Utd FA Cup tie
Burton Albion will play their FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United at their new 6,000-capacity Pirelli Stadium on 8 January. The Conference side decided not to switch the game to nearby Pride Park after discussions with police. But the game will take place on Sunday to avoid being playing same day as the Derby County versus Burnley tie, as the two sides use the same stewards. United opened the Pirelli Stadium last month, when a reserve side lost 2-1.

Inglethorpe confident of revival
Alex Inglethorpe believes Exeter can still attain a play-off place this season, despite seeing his side go down 2-0 away at Burton Albion on Friday. "I am very disappointed," he said. "The first goal was going to be crucial. "People have written us off all season - so if other people want to be gloomy we can't afford to be. "We have enough games yet and our destiny is still in our hands. We have to be better than we were on Friday but we will come through it."

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