Town keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was back at Playford Road today for some early pre-season training with the start of the Blues’ preparations for 2012/13 proper now less than two weeks away. The Town players are due back at the club on July 5th.
Lee-Barrett, currently the Blues’ only professional keeper, was joined on a run by released defender Ibrahima Sonko, who we understand was recently in the US as he searches for a new club but also has options in the UK.
One-time Town academy trainee Lee-Barrett tweeted: "Bumped into a few people at the training ground today. Sonks joined me on my run, had a chat with [returning academy chief] Bryan Klug.”
The club has given the players fitness programmes for the summer with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas amongst those who have been periodically working on their fitness at Playford Road since the end of May.
Striker Michael Chopra is spending time at a health camp in California as part of his preparations for 2012/13, while we understand manager Paul Jewell is also currently in the States on a short break.
New full-back Elliott Hewitt is set to continue his rehabilitation from the hip surgery he underwent while with Macclesfield at Playford Road having recently been at Lilleshall.
We expect French midfielder Cheick Kourouma to have signed on the dotted line by the time the squad reassembles on July 5th having recently agreed terms, while Jason Scotland, who is currently in Trinidad, is similarly expected to put pen to paper on a new deal.