CITY DIARY

JUNE 2 Ashley Bayes is set to join Leyton Orient, after refusing new terms with CityBilly Clark is poised to move to Forest Green Rovers.

JUNE 5 Bayes signs for Orient. Ex Arsenal striker Paul Read is linked to a possible move to City following his release by Wycombe.

JUNE 8 Work starts on removing the Big Bank crush barriersThe barriers will be used to bring the St James Rd end up to safety requirements before the start of next season, and increase capacity from 900 to 1200.

JUNE 10 Danny Potter signs a new contract.

JUNE 12 Chris Leadbitter is a new possible transfer target as the midfielder has turned down a new contract at Torquay Peter Fox celebrates four years in the St James Park hotseat

JUNE 14 Paul Buckle returns to the Park after a three year stint at ColchesterThe 29 year old, who left the us when the club refused to break the wage structure imposed at the time, has signed a two year deal.

JUNE 17 Lee Baddely is forced to retire from football due to injury Out for most of last season with hamstring problems, was sent to a leading sports injury specialist. The results of the tests were that surgery would not guarantee would repair the damageand faced with uncertainty over his long term futureBaddely has decided to call it a day.

JUNE 18 Foxy is being linked with the vacant managerial post at Stoke.

JUNE 19 Championship winning captainCity legendShaun Taylor, could be a possible replacement for Lee Baddely. Taylor has an agreement with Bristol City that he will be allowed a move if he does not figure in the Robins plans for next season, and has had a long chat with Foxy over a possible move back home.

JUNE 23 City draw Birmingham in the first round of the Worthington Cup.

JUNE 24 Foxy heads off for talks with his No.1 target Simon Sturridge, brother of Derby County's Dean Sturridge is being linked to several clubs following his release by Stoke. Former Rochdale striker Robbie Painter is another possible target

JUNE 25 Stoke fans seem keen to have Foxy as their new manager. At  a recent Fans Forum at The Brittania Stadium, supporters urged their club to contact Foxy.

JUNE 26 Fresh talks start with SturridgeIt is hoped to get the player at the club for pre-season training which commences next week.

JUNE 29 Several foreign players, from Nigeria and Norway, have been invited
for trials at City

JUNE 30 Peter Fox registers himself as a player for the forthcoming season

JULY 1 City's attempts to swap the Torquay derby games is a no go. City wanted to play United after the completion of the new Big Bank endbut due to ground work at Plainmoor (to increase visitors allocation) the plan fell through.

JULY 5 The chase to sign Sturridge and Painter has stalled over the last few daysFoxy does have many other irons in the fire, with at least a dozen new players training with us.

JULY 6 Foxy admits to defeat in the Sturridge and Painter race. Two new triallists, both ex-division 3 strikers, join training alongside ex Arsenal trainee keeper David BealNorwegians Ronny Lien, Borge Lien and Thomas Holmsve, join Nigerians Chukwuma Ugbenne, Ike Okoh and Michael Chukwuma to give the Cat and Fiddle an International flavour

JULY 8 25 year old Steve Finney is the latest striker to be targeted by City. The former Swindon striker is being released by Orient on a free transfer.

JULY 11 City head of to Arbroath for more training. Ex Colchester striker Paul Abrahams is with the squad in Scotland, and Orient Striker Alex Inglethorpe is negotiating with Foxy.

JULY 15 City beat Brechin 4-0 in the first pre-season friendlySteve Finney, Paul Buckle, Graeme Power and Robert Speakman are on targetTriallist Paul Abrahams impressed in a powerful City display.

JULY 19 City go down 3-1 to Charlton at the Park. A goal down to a first half penalty. City respond well, levelling through a Finney penalty just after the break. City keeper Danny Potter was stretchered off following a collision with striker Mark McCammon as he scored Charltons second. City conceded a third from a late corner. Ben Worrall, released by Scarboroughplays in midfield for the Grecians.

JULY 20 Former loanee Brian Quailey is released by West Brom. Fox says he is not interested at this stage.

JULY 21 City lose again, this time 2-1 to Portsmouth. After an even first half, City took the lead with a cool lob from Dazza in the 49th minute. Stand in keeper Chris Mackenzie gifts Pompey their equaliser, and McConnells error leads to Guy Whittinghams winner. Former Stoke and Luton player Kofi Nyamah stands out in the City team. Chris Curran picks up an ankle injury and will miss the start of the season. To make matters worse, Danny Potter will be out for two months.

JULY 24 Foxy heads off to Finland to watch FC Jokerit in the Inter Toto Cup against West Ham. City are tracking some possible Finnish transfer targets.

JULY 26 Steve Finney and Paul Abrahams turn down contracts.

JULY 27 Kofi Nyamah signs a one year deal, and Ben Worrall signs up for three months. Chris Curran will be out for up to two months.

JULY 28 Warren Waugh is to go on loan to Finnish side Riihimaen Palloseura until the end of their season in a couple of months timeFoxy believes the deal may ease the way for players to come in the opposite direction later in the season.

JULY 29 City make enquiries about two Finnish players, goalkeeper Pasi Laaksonen and winger Mika Nenonen, both from FC Jokerit. Their initial asking price is out of our price range, but Foxy is still talking to their general manager. Robert Speakman scores twice as City overcome Taunton Town in a friendly at
the Park. Peter Fox plays in goal.

JULY 30 A superb goal from Kofi Nyamah seals a 1-0 win for City at Weymouth in the final pre-season workout. Jason Matthews plays in goal, but was rarely called into action. Matthews had impressed Foxy whilst playing against City for Taunton recently. Hull City defender, Rob Dewhurst, available on a free transfer, plays the full game. Another potential City target, former West Brom keeper, Stuart Naylor, plays for Weymouth.

AUGUST 2 City offer Dewhurst a contract following an impressive display at Weymouth. Foxy is also having talks with Naylor.

AUGUST 3 Dewhurst and Naylor are expected at the Park for talks with Fox.

AUGUST 4 Dewhurst and Naylor both sign 1 year deals and look likely to make their debuts in the opening game of the season against Hull. Fox has not given up hope of signing a new striker before Saturday.

AUGUST 5 Exeter based E Thomas construction are appointed to carry out the ground redevelopment. Bulldozers move in to St James Park to start work demolishing the Big Bank.

AUGUST 6 Foxy admits defeat in his attempts to sign a new striker before the start of the seasonTwo possible loan targets fell through, one turning us down point blank and the other kept at his club due to injuries to other strikers.

AUGUST 7 City make the perfect start to the season, picking up all three points after beating Hull 1-0 at the Park. The visitors started well but soon faded as City dominated possesion. Hulls physical approach led to a series of bookings and injuries to Buckle and Rowbotham who were both substitutedKofi Nyamah came in for particular attention and it was no surprise when Greaves got his marching orders for a second yellow card following a late challenge on the winger. City came close to opening the scoring late in the first half when Geoff Breslans free kick was headed against the post by a Hull defender. City started the second half in second gear, and the ten men gradually forced several chances. Stuart Naylor made several fine stops and Jon Gittens made a desperate last ditch tackle after the defense was caught square playing offside. Things changed after the ineffective Steve Flack was replaced by Barry McConnell. The extra pace and movement created space, allowing the midfield to press forward. With five minutes remaining, Chris Holloways shot was parried onto the bar, rebounding for Robert Speakman to score with a diving header. Speakman could, and should have added a second when sent clear, but fired into the empty terraing on the Big Bank after rounding the keeper. Geoff Breslan went close with a volley from the edge of the box and the defence gave us one or two scares with some late offside ploys. All in all a good result against one of the fancied teamsalthough the two injuries will be a major worry. Questions have to be asked about the performance after the break, playing ten men we didn't trouble their keeper for forty minutes and our keeper was voted man of the match. All the new boys played well and Speakman showed a true scorers instinct