Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers
Duo are released by Tranmere boss Tranmere Rovers boss Brian Little has released midfielder David Beresford and goalkeeper Russell Howarth. Howarth, 23, made 14 appearances for Rovers after joining from York City in November 2002. Beresford, 28, signed from Macclesfield at the end of 2003 and played 55 games in his time at Prenton Park. Meanwhile, youth-team player Gary Pinch has also left the club after Little decided not to offer him a professional contract with the League One side.

Zola back from Congo for Tranmere
Tranmere's Congolese striker Calvin Zola has been given the all-clear to resume his Prenton Park career after obtaining a visa to play in England. Zola was forced to return to Congo for three days but is now back at Rovers and is available to play next season. The 20-year-old joined from Newcastle last summer but played just 19 games before running into red-tape problems. "In many ways it will be like a new signing. Hopefully he will prove a real asset for us," boss Brian Little said.

Taylor tipped for Everton switch
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington claims Everton have won the race for Tranmere youngster Ryan Taylor. Worthington hoped to tempt the 20-year-old defender to Norwich, but says Everton have clinched a £1m deal. He said: "He was one of those with a lot of potential that we would have liked to have brought here. "But he's gone to Everton - it's a Premiership club and means that he doesn't have to move. He can still live in his home city." Worthington had pencilled in Taylor for a tour of Norwich's facilities, but says the player has decided to join David Moyes at Everton.

Bradford snap up keeper Howarth
Bradford have signed goalkeeper Russell Howarth, who was released by League One rivals Tranmere last month. Howarth, 23, has agreed a two-year deal with City and will challenge Donovan Ricketts for a first-team berth. "It was a position we needed filling badly. I am delighted to have got a keeper of Russell's calibre," boss Colin Todd told the Bantams' website. The former England Under-20 star joined Tranmere from York in November 2002, but started just 11 games.

Hall makes switch to Chesterfield
Chesterfield boss Roy McFarland has made Tranmere Rovers winger Paul Hall his first signing of the summer. The 32-year-old Jamaican international has agreed a two-year deal. "We have worked really hard to sign Paul, despite keen interest from other clubs. We believe his quality will help strengthen the team," said McFarland. Hall, who has previously had spells at Rushden & Diamonds, Walsall, Portsmouth and Torquay, helped Tranmere reach the League One play-offs last season.

Davies close to new Preston deal
Preston manager Billy Davies has confirmed he has been offered an improved contract and is hopeful the situation will soon be "concluded". "I have been offered a substantially improved contract to stay at Deepdale," Davies told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I was offered the new deal less than a week ago by the club and it was the first time any discussion had taken place about a new deal." Preston chairman Derek Shaw said he is hopeful of a "satisfactory outcome". Davies, who took charge of Preston last August and took them to the Championship play-off final, had been strongly linked with Derby and Scottish side Hearts. Preston have offered Davies a long-term deal as oppose the his current one-year rolling contract - and a hard copy is now with his lawyer. Shaw added on Preston's website: "We've had very constructive discussions and feel very confident of a satisfactory outcome." Derby have now turned their attention to Yeovil boss Gary Johnson. Preston moved quickly to open talks with Davies' representative, Mick McGuire of the Professional Footballers' Association, after George Burley quit as the Rams boss last week. Shaw rebuffed an informal approach by a Derby director at a meeting of Championship chairmen where he made it clear that Preston were keen to retain the highly-rated Davies.

Arsenal monitor Tranmere's Taylor
Arsenal are the latest club to be linked with Tranmere's £1m-rated youngster Ryan Taylor. Norwich were set to bid for the 20-year-old defender, but boss Nigel Worthington claimed the player had decided to join Everton. He said: "He's gone to Everton - it's a Premiership club and means that he doesn't have to move." But The Guardian reports Everton have not agreed a deal and Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger is now pondering a move.

Hall makes switch to Chesterfield
Chesterfield boss Roy McFarland has made Tranmere Rovers winger Paul Hall his first signing of the summer. The 32-year-old Jamaican international has agreed a two-year deal. "We have worked really hard to sign Paul, despite keen interest from other clubs. We believe his quality will help strengthen the team," said McFarland. Hall, who has previously had spells at Rushden & Diamonds, Walsall, Portsmouth and Torquay, helped Tranmere reach the League One play-offs last season.

Tranmere complete double signing
Tranmere have completed the signings of winger Sam Aiston and goalkeeper Steve Wilson on one-year contracts. Aiston, 28, left Shrewsbury in May after four years at Gay Meadow and Wilson, 32, joins Rovers after a four-year spell at Macclesfield. Ian Goodison and Theo Whitmore, both 32, have signed new one-year deals to remain at Prenton Park. Veteran midfielder Mark Rankine, 35, has also extended his stay at Tranmere with a new one-year contract.

Tranmere trio sign new contracts
Tranmere Rovers striker Calvin Zola has signed a new deal until 2007 after being granted a work permit. And both Ian Goodison, 32, and Theodore Whitmore, 32, have also agreed one-year deals after having their work permit applications approved. Rovers boss Brian Little was thriled Zola, 20, had agreed to stay. He told the club's website: "We're looking forward to Calvin progressing. He has worked really hard in training during the last few months."

Little unfazed after player raid
Tranmere manager Brian Little reckons that interest in some of his young players is inevitable following the departure of Ryan Taylor. The Rovers defender signed for Wigan on Wednesday and Little told BBC Sport: "There had been a lot of interest in Ryan and I am not surprised. "There have been conversations about some of the young players at the club but that is part of the business. "Ryan in particular attracted a lot of attention from other clubs." Taylor, 20, had been linked with Everton, Norwich and Arsenal before joining Premiership new boys Wigan. Striker Iain Hume, 21, has also been linked with several clubs. Hume was the subject of an offer from Preston last season, prompting Rovers to offer him a new contract until June 2007. The Canada international joined Tranmere as a trainee in 1999 and has now made more than 100 appearances for the Prenton Park club. And Little views the interest in his players as a complement to Tranmere. "I always say to my young players that they should want to play in the Premiership, they should want to prove to the world how good they are," added Little. "If the opportunity comes to play at that level I for one would not stand in their way. "We have to progress as a club and we are working to try and take the club on." And Little said that his main aim is to keep developing his players and work as hard as he can for Tranmere. "My job is not to sell the players, my job is to work with the players I have, I try very hard to look after my players and team. "I don't have a hang up about interest in our players or worry about it."

Wigan complete swoop for Taylor
Wigan have signed Tranmere full-back Ryan Taylor for a fee of £750,000 which could rise to £1.2m on appearances. The 20-year-old has agreed a four-year contract at the JJB Stadium. He told Wigan's website: "This is a dream come true. The chance to play in the Premiership at this stage of my career is almost unbelievable." Latics boss Paul Jewell is delighted with his new signing, rating him as "a cracking young prospect and an important addition to the squad". Jewell has also revealed he is hoping to sign highly-rated centre-back Ze Castro from Portuguese side Academica Coimbra for £1.3m. Wigan have already signed goalkeeper Mike Pollitt from Rotherham and Bastia defender Pascal Chimbonda during the close season. Taylor had been linked with moves to Everton, Norwich and Arsenal before Jewell swooped to bring him to the JJB Stadium.

Tranmere sign top summer target
Tranmere have landed Chris Greenacre, their top summer transfer target. The 27-year-old former Manchester City and Mansfield striker has agreed a deal at Prenton Park after being released by Stoke at the end of last season. "He has been my number-one target. He is a proven goalscorer with the ability to be in the right place at the right time," Little told his club's website. Greenacre endured a lean three-season stay at Stoke but before that scored 58 times in 134 games for Mansfield.

Wednesday scrap move for Hume
Sheffield Wednesday have pulled out of a proposed £500,000 move for Tranmere forward Iain Hume after failing to agree personal terms. "The fee was agreed," Owls chief executive Kaven Walker told Sheffield Wednesday's official website. "But unfortunately after several attempts to negotiate with the player's agent we couldn't reach agreement." Wednesday have also ended their interest in Rangers defender Maurice Ross, 24, due to wage demands.

Bruce joins Tranmere in loan deal
Tranmere have secured the loan signing of Birmingham City defender Alex Bruce. The 20-year-old son of City boss Steve has moved to Prenton Park until January, with the possibility of staying on a season-long basis. "Alex played against us last season when he was on loan and we were very impressed with him," Rovers boss Brian Little told his club's website. Bruce is yet to play a senior game for Birmingham, but has served Oldham and Sheffield Wednesday on loan.

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