Winger Michael Coulson on radar of York City boss (From York Press)
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Winger Michael Coulson on radar of York City boss
12:00pm Saturday 2nd June 2012 in News
By Dave Flett, Sports reporter
FREE agent Michael Coulson is on York City manager Gary Mills’ wanted list.
Winger Coulson, who turned down a new deal at Blue Square Bet Premier Grimsby Town at the end of last season, is seen as the ideal man to add competition for striking places at Bootham Crescent during the club’s League Two campaign.
But Mills added that he only envisages recruiting four new players this summer should those out-of-contract players he would like to retain from last season’s squad agree new terms.
He also revealed that strengthening the team’s attacking and midfield options will be his priority during the close season.
Coulson was a child prodigy at home-town Scarborough where he broke into the then Conference club’s first team at the age of 16.
He went on to play for Barnsley in the Championship but a cruciate knee ligament injury halted his progress at Oakwell and loan spells at Northwich, Chester and Grimsby followed before he made a permanent switch to Blundell Park in the summer of 2010.
Netting 21 times in 101 league outings for the Mariners, he also won England ‘C’ honours but is now looking for a new challenge.
Outlining his admiration for Coulson, City boss Mills said: “Michael Coulson is somebody I rate. I think he’s a good player and he’s one that I am interested in.
“I don’t know whether he will be coming here or not though and we will have to wait and see.”
On the potential number of new faces for the 2012/13 campaign, Mills added: “That might be dictated by what comes out of my talks with last season’s players and maybe then I will need more players than I’d anticipated but we don’t need wholesale changes. If I can keep the players I want, I think we are looking at four players.
“We are a good side with a strong bond and a great team spirit. The fans have seen that and I would be stupid to dismantle things.
“There will always be changes. Some signings don’t work out and some might need to move on to resurrect their careers.
“Then, I’ve got to look at the right replacements to make us stronger. We’ve got to strengthen the midfield because Scott Kerr might be out until October.
“I also want to increase our striking options. It’s a vital area and, as superbly as Matty Blair, Jason Walker and Ash Chambers did last season, there’s got to be a couple more to push them or get picked ahead of them.”
Having signalled his intention to hold on to out-of-contract left-back James Meredith, Mills has also expressed a desire to keep Chambers, Adriano Moké and Dan Parslow.
But he is yet to tell fellow free agents Jon Challinor, Chris Doig, Jamal Fyfield, Danny Pilkington, Eugen Bopp, Matthew Blinkhorn and Scott Brown whether they have futures at the club.
Mills said: “I’ve had brief chats with Ash Chambers, Dan Parslow and Adriano Moké to say I would like them to come into the League with me next season. That doesn’t mean that’s going to happen and everything will be agreed but, as manager, I would like to give them that opportunity.
“Adriano has so much ability. He didn’t play an abundance of games but the last nine months will have opened his eyes.
“He’s seen what it’s all about now and grew up and became a man around Christmas time when we saw a big improvement. There’s a lot more to come from him and I think he can excite in the next League.
“Ash Chambers grew in confidence during the season as well. Self-belief had always been a problem with him but he ended up having a fantastic season.
“Then there’s the old warhorse Dan Parslow. He’s the type of player every manager wants in their squad.
“He can play here, there and everywhere and was outstanding during the last dozen games. He deserves to play in the League, will never let me down and I can trust him 100 per cent.”
Youth-team goalkeeper Ben White has been released, however, meaning Tom Platt is the only player from last year’s second-year scholars to agree professional terms.
“I have high hopes for him,” Mills said about Platt, who ended last season on loan at Harrogate Town. “He’s done superbly well. I think he’s got a bright future.”
City, meanwhile, will travel to Gateshead on Tuesday, July 24 for a pre-season friendly.
Provisional home games to Hartlepool on August 11 and Middlesbrough for David McGurk’s testimonial, either on August 3 or 4, are to be confirmed.
Mills also intends to return to last summer’s Rutland training base for a small break with possible fixtures at Grantham on July 28 and Peterborough on July 31.
The Football League, meanwhile, have confirmed that teams will be permitted to name seven substitutes next season.
Comments(27)
duffy
says...
12:29pm Sat 2 Jun 12
"
Blair and Coulson have argubaly been the best wingers in this division over the course of the last two seasons as a whole. I like the idea of them being in the same side. Far, far better for us if he's in League Two. Really hope he does as well in the division above as he's done for us down here. I don't there will be too many Town fans not wishing him well. Has been our best player since we've been down, in my opinion (given that he's been here both seasons as opposed to Connell and Hearn).
There's no doubt in my mind that he is capable of performing in League Two, as he was one of the few bright sparks during our relegation season. It's coincidence that his form picked up during the latter stages of the season when Coulson had settled in. He was arguably our best player in March/April of that season and I specifically remember him being superb and hitting four in five matches at one point which isn't a bad return at all for a side down at the bottom. In partcular there was that match at Accrington when we came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to ten or fifteen crazy minutes. Him and Devitt were on fire in that match.
It's a shame he won't be with us next season, but I'm glad he's going to York.
eborexile
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2:21pm Sat 2 Jun 12
I agree with your assesment. He's a player who since his days at Scarborough has been on the radar as someone in whom I believed we should have been interested. I thought he was going to be out of our reach but obviously injury has held him back. Potentially a very clever bit of free signing business.
Sarah York
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2:21pm Sat 2 Jun 12
big phil scolari
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4:18pm Sat 2 Jun 12
duffy
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4:25pm Sat 2 Jun 12
big phil scolari wrote:It's unusual for Mills to name check a player without a deal been close to being done. I think this one is a distinct possibility.
I used to work with coulsons uncle and heard he has fleet wood town interested in him but has stated that if York were to come in for him he would come as his partner is a teacher in Grimsby so York would be easier for him to travel , so could well happen
big phil scolari
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4:43pm Sat 2 Jun 12
OLD - HEAD
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5:18pm Sat 2 Jun 12
joejamestom wrote:Fair point about the lad who had a good game for Kidderminster. But I remember another little winger who played for Kidderminster, absolutely murdering Meredith when they came to Bootham Crescent. We went out and signed that little winger (McDermot), the rest is history. All Managers would love their signings to turn out to be great players, but its a gamble. Michael Coulson could be a useful addition, if we can get him, but other clubs will be interested.
Good idea to look at the better players from a league he knows well & sticking with his own choice players to give them the chance to show what they can do in league football. Hope he takes a look at LB Lee Baker who gave Ben Purkiss a torrid time against Kiddy a couple of years ago since I think he rates Ben & Newport have released him. Looking forward to the fixture list.
Tug job
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6:51pm Sat 2 Jun 12
Tug job
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6:54pm Sat 2 Jun 12
OLD - HEAD wrote:Agreed about McDermott, Old-Head, but didn't we also sign another winger from Kiddy?
joejamestom wrote: Good idea to look at the better players from a league he knows well & sticking with his own choice players to give them the chance to show what they can do in league football. Hope he takes a look at LB Lee Baker who gave Ben Purkiss a torrid time against Kiddy a couple of years ago since I think he rates Ben & Newport have released him. Looking forward to the fixture list.Fair point about the lad who had a good game for Kidderminster. But I remember another little winger who played for Kidderminster, absolutely murdering Meredith when they came to Bootham Crescent. We went out and signed that little winger (McDermot), the rest is history. All Managers would love their signings to turn out to be great players, but its a gamble. Michael Coulson could be a useful addition, if we can get him, but other clubs will be interested.
Killieboy
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7:50pm Sat 2 Jun 12
Mad vlad
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12:25am Sun 3 Jun 12
duffy
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12:52pm Sun 3 Jun 12
OLD - HEAD
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1:08pm Sun 3 Jun 12
duffy wrote:Yes I read this in the NLP, but he is also being pursued by Luton, Oxford, Stevenage, Bradford and Wycombe. Although the article went on to say that York City would appear to be the favourites, as Shaws family live in the North East. I suppose it will all be down to who offers the best wages. But nothing is done and dusted until they sign on the dotted line.
I see John Shaw is also in talks.
johnno65
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1:46pm Sun 3 Jun 12
selbyred
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2:01pm Sun 3 Jun 12
johnno65 wrote:source being?isnt Shaw soon to be out of contract?if so would be an odd thing to swap a player to get him if he could be signed for free.
swop deal Shaw to York with Reedy going the other way, real shame im a big Reedy fan but with limited chances and often out of favour, maybe this will benefit both players.
duffy
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3:01pm Sun 3 Jun 12
johnno65 wrote:Where did you here this ? We don't have to offer Gateshead anything so it would seem strange.
swop deal Shaw to York with Reedy going the other way, real shame im a big Reedy fan but with limited chances and often out of favour, maybe this will benefit both players.
tomwillo1
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3:39pm Sun 3 Jun 12
duffy wrote:ridiculous quote! He's out of contract so a free agent, we would never swap reed especially when i dont think shaw is much better than reedy anyway!
johnno65 wrote:Where did you here this ? We don't have to offer Gateshead anything so it would seem strange.
swop deal Shaw to York with Reedy going the other way, real shame im a big Reedy fan but with limited chances and often out of favour, maybe this will benefit both players.
haxbyreds
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3:44pm Sun 3 Jun 12
johnboy2882
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7:39pm Sun 3 Jun 12
Al-YCFC
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9:25pm Sun 3 Jun 12
haxbyreds wrote:I liked Luton's Kovacs, absolute mountain of a defender
All the talk about coulson and shaw,mills is top man and will get best out of any decent players,these 2 have been good all season and would to good signing,shaw would score loads,the best 2 conference players I saw last year was Matt of Kiddy (nearest thing to Walwyn seen at the crescent) and Clarke of Gateshead the massive ginger centre back,
paintitred
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7:23am Mon 4 Jun 12
Al-YCFC wrote:not sure abt kovacs not seen anything to indicate hes league 2 standard. out jumped by jason walker who is considerable smaller. Also hes a lumper and as we play from the back i doubt his ball skills are good enough for gary mills to be contacting him any time soon. how abt the guy who grimsby signed from darlington. then name totaly slips my mind at the moment but he was a class act. which ever CB we go for it has to be better , i just dont see Kovacs in that role
haxbyreds wrote:I liked Luton's Kovacs, absolute mountain of a defender
All the talk about coulson and shaw,mills is top man and will get best out of any decent players,these 2 have been good all season and would to good signing,shaw would score loads,the best 2 conference players I saw last year was Matt of Kiddy (nearest thing to Walwyn seen at the crescent) and Clarke of Gateshead the massive ginger centre back,
duffy
says...
10:25am Mon 4 Jun 12
paintitred wrote:Miller would have been a good signing for us but he signed a 16 month contract with Grimsby so that's a none starter.
Al-YCFC wrote:not sure abt kovacs not seen anything to indicate hes league 2 standard. out jumped by jason walker who is considerable smaller. Also hes a lumper and as we play from the back i doubt his ball skills are good enough for gary mills to be contacting him any time soon. how abt the guy who grimsby signed from darlington. then name totaly slips my mind at the moment but he was a class act. which ever CB we go for it has to be better , i just dont see Kovacs in that rolehaxbyreds wrote: All the talk about coulson and shaw,mills is top man and will get best out of any decent players,these 2 have been good all season and would to good signing,shaw would score loads,the best 2 conference players I saw last year was Matt of Kiddy (nearest thing to Walwyn seen at the crescent) and Clarke of Gateshead the massive ginger centre back,I liked Luton's Kovacs, absolute mountain of a defender
van the man
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11:48am Mon 4 Jun 12
Comment from a Grimsby fan who I respect. " Blair and Coulson have argubaly been the best wingers in this division over the course of the last two seasons as a whole. I like the idea of them being in the same side. Far, far better for us if he's in League Two. Really hope he does as well in the division above as he's done for us down here. I don't there will be too many Town fans not wishing him well. Has been our best player since we've been down, in my opinion (given that he's been here both seasons as opposed to Connell and Hearn). There's no doubt in my mind that he is capable of performing in League Two, as he was one of the few bright sparks during our relegation season. It's coincidence that his form picked up during the latter stages of the season when Coulson had settled in. He was arguably our best player in March/April of that season and I specifically remember him being superb and hitting four in five matches at one point which isn't a bad return at all for a side down at the bottom. In partcular there was that match at Accrington when we came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to ten or fifteen crazy minutes. Him and Devitt were on fire in that match. It's a shame he won't be with us next season, but I'm glad he's going to York. Why do people keep banging on about "League two level" i think the league we have just come out of is a lot tougher, as Crawley have just proved, I can easily see us being be back at wembley for next seasons play off final with the team we already have, as for Coulson i would say 21 goals in 101 games is poor return for any front player, playing out wide or not.
dangermoose
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11:24am Tue 5 Jun 12
haxbyreds wrote:It is Curtis who is the tall red haired centre back for Heed. Clarke is the baldy one.
All the talk about coulson and shaw,mills is top man and will get best out of any decent players,these 2 have been good all season and would to good signing,shaw would score loads,the best 2 conference players I saw last year was Matt of Kiddy (nearest thing to Walwyn seen at the crescent) and Clarke of Gateshead the massive ginger centre back,
I doubt either Shaw or Coulson will end up here with Bradford and Scunthorpe more likely destinations respectively.
York Mariner
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11:41pm Tue 5 Jun 12
YoRkIe59
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1:16pm Wed 6 Jun 12
joejamestom says...
12:24pm Sat 2 Jun 12