Rushden and Diamonds

Diamonds swoop for Chillingworth
Rushden & Diamonds have signed striker Daniel Chillingworth following his departure from Cambridge United. The 23-year-old is expected to be the first of a number of new faces arriving at Nene Park in the next few days. Chillingworth made over 100 appearances for the U's after coming through the youth system and scored 14 goals. He has also previously had loan spells at Darlington and Leyton Orient, where he scored twice in eight League Two starts last season.

Chillingworth relishing new start
Striker Daniel Chillingworth has admitted that he was sorry to leave Cambridge - but is excited by his move to Rushden & Diamonds. "I'm a Cambridge lad and I had been there since I was 12 and had seen a lot of changes, including seven managers," he told Rushden's website. "But when I was taken around here, I was blown away. The place is amazing. "I am also keen on pairing up with Drewe Broughton, and I am sure that between us, the goals will come."

Diamonds snap up Hammers striker
Rushden & Diamonds have signed young West Ham striker Greg Pearson on a two-year contract. The 20-year-old spent time on loan at Lincoln and Canvey Island last season - but also knows Nene Park well. "I came here towards the end of last season and played a couple of reserve games," he told Rushden's website. "I was very impressed with the place, but now I have just one ambition - I want to score goals. It is all I have ever wanted to do as a footballer." He becomes the second striker signed by Diamonds boss Barry Hunter this week - following Daniel Chillingworth's move from Cambridge.

Swansea confident of Burgess deal
Swansea City's long chase for Rushden and Diamonds midfielder Andy Burgess finally appears to be over. The club say they expect Burgess, who has eluded them since January, to sign for £80,000 in the "next 24 hours". "It's been quite a drawn out event but I think it'll prove worthwhile," Swans chairman told BBC Wales Sport. Jenkins revealed the club are also keen on Wrexham defender Craig Morgan and have had a £60,000 bid rejected by Fulham for midfielder Darren Pratley. "Fulham are keen to hold onto him over pre-season," explained Jenkins. "Naturally we'll keep perusing that until we hopefully succeed in getting a player Kenny Jackett rates very highly. "He's only 20 years old and hopefully over the coming weeks the situation will become clearer and we'll get our man." Burgess, 23, has scored 23 goals in nearly 200 appearances for Rushden since making his debut in 1999. Swansea had a £75,000 bid rejected back in January, but Rushden admitted defeat in their attempts to hold onto Burgess when he submitted a transfer request in May. "To get him signed and involved before pre-season training will be a big plus for us," added Jenkins. "To get the first player signed is important. We're happy with what we've got but we know we have to add probably three or four players to that. "Hopefully with the first finalised in the next 24 hours we can finalise the rest between now and the middle of July."

Diamonds snap up ex-Charlton man
Rushden & Diamonds have agreed terms on a two-year contract with former Charlton midfielder Neil McCafferty. McCafferty, 20, impressed during a loan spell at Nene Park last season and manager Barry Hunter was thrilled to sign him on a permanent basis. Hunter said: "Neil played well for us last season. He had to adjust his style of play from Premiership to League Two. "But he settled in well. I look forward to signing Neil in the next few days and feel sure he will be an asset."

Burgess move to Swans breaks down
Andy Burgess's proposed move from Rushden & Diamonds to Swansea is off. Negotiations between the Swans and the 23-year-old midfielder have broken down and Burgess will return to Nene Park for pre-season training. Swansea's long pursuit of Burgess saw their initial bid of £75,000 back in January rejected by Rushden. But Rushden were forced to admit defeat in their attempts to hold onto Burgess when he submitted a transfer request towards the end of last season.

Young joins Diamonds in loan move
Rushden & Diamonds have completed the signing of Reading goalkeeper Jamie Young on a long-term loan. The 19-year-old will join the squad for pre-season training this week, after recently starring for England in the Toulon Tournament in France. Hunter told BBC Radio Northampton: "We are delighted that Reading have allowed a player of his potential to join us. "Jamie's got great potential and is coming to us with great enthusiasm intending to prove himself."

Hunter demands improved attitude
Rushden boss Barry Hunter is adamant the key to success in the coming season is a change of attitude in his squad. Last year Diamonds came a disappointing 90th in the league, just one place above relegation to the Conference. "We were lacking a bit of character in the squad last season if I'm honest," Hunter told BBC Sport. "Now we've got all the players we've been planning to bring in and it's a case of working with them and getting a close, tight spirit amongst them." It is a positive outlook for a man who saw his side teetering on the edge of relegation for much of the season before finishing six points clear of the drop. "At one stage, every time we got a result, Kidderminster or Cambridge got a result as well. "But we knew if we kept doing the right thing, eventually we'd pull clear and we deserved to with our performances." Hunter credits his team's "character" for helping them escape a return to the non-league ranks from which they emerged with great fanfare in 2001. Within two years they were in English football's third tier, but since then have been on a downward trajectory. But Hunter insists things are looking up at a club which is celebrating a new beginning after ownership of the Nene Park outfit was transferred to the club's Supporters' Trust. "A bit of stability has come to the club and it's an exciting time on and off the pitch," he added. "There's been a lot of upheaval and a lot of new players have come in. A top-half finish would be excellent but first and foremost we have to make sure we stay in the league. "Towards the end of the season we beat Yeovil, Northampton and Boston at home, deservedly so, and we scrapped away from home at Kidderminster and Grimsby. "That pleased me and that's particularly where I want to see even more character, away from home where we now know what it takes to get results. "We'll continue to work hard on that and focus on turning that around. "And we have to continue where we left off at the end of last season when we had people playing to their potential. "We got a bit of belief back with those results against teams that were sometimes 30 or 40 points ahead of us and that proves what we can do. "It created a good mood that we have to make sure continues. We need to get them doing it every single Saturday."

Duffy set for Peterborough trial
Former Rushden and Diamonds striker Robert Duffy is to have a trial with Peterborough United. The 22-year-old was released from Nene Park at the end of last season. Duffy's career has been interrupted by injury and he was sidelined for nine months with a knee problem in 2003 but made a successful comeback in 2004. The Welshman was a trainee at Nene Park and now is hoping to impress Posh boss Mark Wright and win a contract for the start of the new season.

Hunter considers bolstering squad
Rushden and Diamonds boss Barry Hunter said he is thinking of more signings, even though he is closing in on his starting line-up for the new season. Hunter said morale was good after Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Kettering, but did not rule out another loan signing. "I'm a bit clearer on the first-choice line-up but places are still up for grabs," he told the club's website. "Some positions have lots of competition for places and it is up to the players to show they are worthy."

Defender Gier praised by Hunter
Rushden & Diamonds manager Barry Hunter is sure Rob Gier can be one of the best full-backs in League Two next season. Gier, 25, has impressed during the pre-season tour of Northern Ireland. Hunter told the club website: "I see Rob as a top quality right-back - at our level in League Two, and indeed higher than that. "He gets forward, he gets back, and he gets good crosses in - just as a good full-back should do. He stretches himself in every game he plays."

Rushden 2-1 Coventry City
Rushden & Diamonds beat Coventry City 2-1 in a bad-tempered clash marred by an injury to experienced Sky Blues goalkeeper Clayton Ince. Ince was stretchered off with suspected broken ribs after a challenge by Rushden's Drewe Broughton - but X-rays showed he has just suffered bruising. Greg Pearson put Rushden ahead from close range but Stern John headed home trialist Paul Watson's cross tolevel. A draw looked likely until City's Rob Page put through his own net late on. Ince, 33, only joined Coventry at the start of July. The Trinidad and Tobago international had been released by Crewe Alexandra after six years at Gresty road.

Diamonds keen to return to action
Rushden & Diamonds assistant boss Neville Hamilton is eagerly awaiting Saturday's game with Chester after last weekend's washout at Macclesfield. "Chester can't come quick enough - they didn't play either last weekend," Hamilton told the club's website. "They've made an encouraging start with an away win (at Peterborough) and a home draw against one of the fancied teams in the division (Lincoln). "So in fact, you'll have two teams both eager for action."

Rushden 0-3 Coventry
Coventry eased into the second round of the Carling Cup with victory over Rushden & Diamonds. Gary McSheffrey hit City's first goal, finding the net from Marcus Hall's cross after good work from Stern John. Greg Pearson missed a great chance to level before Matt Heath made it 2-0, slotting home after Micky Doyle's shot was deflected into his path. Andy Morrell completed the scoring with the best goal of the night, converting Doyle's through-ball from close range. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rushden & D'monds: Young, Gier (Nicholls 33), Dempster (Okuonghae 45), Gulliver, Hawkins, Bell, Savage, McCafferty, Kelly, Pearson (Taylor 74), O'Grady. Subs Not Used: Woodman, Grainger. Booked: Savage, Hawkins, Gulliver, Pearson. Coventry: Ince, Whing, Williams, Heath, Hall, Morrell, Doyle, Jorgensen (Wood 67), McSheffrey (Adebola 77), John, Osbourne. Subs Not Used: Scowcroft, Tuffy, Page. Booked: Osbourne, John, Hall. Goals: McSheffrey 10, Heath 41, Morrell 81. Att: 3,240 Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Boss feels Diamonds were unlucky
Boss Barry Hunter felt Rushden & Diamonds were out of luck as they were beaten 2-0 at Grimsby to lose their unbeaten league record. "We definitely weren't beaten by the better side," Hunter said. "Their first was an absolute wonder goal - we have seen two in two games, so maybe we are due to score one. "Then, their penalty was very dubious to say the least, as they have both gone in for the ball. But I cannot fault our lads' attitude."

View Full Version: Rushden and Diamonds