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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
League Two club enter race to sign ex-Swindon loan striker
Last season's Swindon Town loanee Joe Westley is now a target for their League Two rivals Accrington Stanley, according to reports. Following a six-month spell with Swindon last season in which Westley netted three times despite largely being a finisher under Ian Holloway, the Burnley striker has been the subject of plenty of interest. The Lower Tiers have previously said that Wigan Athletic, Walsall, and Fleetwood Town were looking at him, along with Swindon, but Alan Nixon has now written that Accrington are interested in bringing him to the Wham Stadium. Nixon also said that Town had been in discussions with him earlier this summer, although a deal broke down after there was uncertainty over his game time. Westley started only three of his 17 appearances in the second half of last season. The Adver is aware that Swindon did have interest in Westley earlier this summer, but a real approach did not materialise as they were pursuing other opportunities. Westley was a player that Holloway liked greatly, especially the attitude that he had and would have been pleased to have him back, especially as he does not want a like-for-like back-up for Harry Smith. Read more: Loan move in progress for young Swindon defender Whose hype train is building and who must start? Swindon players rated Holloway looking to make clear to Town squad standards expected Speaking on Saturday, he said: 'I like to stack and rack my forwards, I always have and I always will. 'What I won't do is stack and rack someone like Harry, because if I try to bring another one like Harry in, then he knows he is going to be sub. Who the hell am I going to get to do that?' Having been predominantly an impact sub for Swindon last season, Westley appears to be angling for a more obvious starting place in his new team. He has spent pre-season with Burnley, scoring against Huddersfield at the weekend, but wants a chance for regular football this campaign. Speaking to Burnley club media in June, Westley said: 'In League Two, the players are just better. They're a bit stronger, with more defensive nous than players in the under-21s and a bit more physical, so you've got to learn to grow up quite quickly in that type of football. 'I went there to prove to myself that I could score goals at that level, and I did do that, so going into next year, I'll make sure I rest but also come back firing. 'I'll come back into pre-season as fit and as sharp as I can be and will see what happens from there.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everton transfer priority is crystal clear despite surprise in first friendly of summer
Everton's opening game of pre-season was about fitness rather than learning lessons. But David Moyes will still have left the Wham Stadium with some useful takeaways - some new, some that he already knew but which will now have hardened in his mind. These are the key points taken by the ECHO after watching the Blues grab a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley thanks to Beto's late penalty. READ MORE: It took just three minutes to see why Everton have already saved millions on one summer transfer READ MORE: Everton player ratings as Harrison Armstrong shines and other youngsters impress in first friendly The fearlessness of youth The highlight of this match was the impact of the younger players. Youth was always going to be blended with experience given the threadbare nature of the squad - a matter made all the more significant with Iliman Ndiaye, Jordan Pickford and Idrissa Gueye absent having only returned to Finch Farm on Monday and with new signings Mark Travers and Thierno Barry yet to link up with their teammates. Teen star Harrison Armstrong is becoming a known quantity - his talent is there for all to see and he made a strong case to remain part of the first team set-up on Tuesday night. The element of surprise instead came from the wingers Isaac Heath and Justin Clarke. Both brought confidence and fearlessness to the pitch when they were given their chance midway through the second half. Heath, just 20, signed a new deal with the club last week - reward for his player of the year success in the Under-21s last season, while Clarke had an outstanding debut campaign with the U18s after arriving from AFC Wimbledon. They had an impact, running at defenders, forcing them onto the back foot and creating chances for themselves and those around them. It was Heath whose driving run earned the penalty from which Beto scored the equaliser. Everton's transfer priority is crystal clear For all that those starlets prospered at the end, it remains clear that Everton's greatest need is on the right wing. That is something everyone at the club already knew but it was again apparent at Accrington. Dwight McNeil is a talented player and his left foot is known as the paintbrush for a justified reason. He started on the right wing - a position he had minutes in last season after recovering from injury. But this is not his best position and, of all the senior options currently in the club, every one feels as though it would be a square peg in a round hole. For Everton to be more dynamic in attack, at least one specialist option in that position is essential. Carlos Alcaraz's influence is most powerful from the middle It was Carlos Alcaraz who started on the left wing and this was another example - after countless last season - that his best does not come from that slot. The 22-year-old was one of Everton's better performers in this match but the best of his influence came when he drifted in-field, searching for the ball. From there, his ability to go both ways caused problems and he was able to thread useful balls to Vitalii Mykolenko, who then surged into the space vacated by Everton's first summer signing. The displays that convinced Moyes to make his move from Flamengo permanent - in the away wins at Crystal Palace, Fulham and Newcastle United - came with Alcaraz playing in a central role. Whether it is at the Wham or St James' Park, his skillset is best utilised in the middle. Full-backs showing adventure It was notable how willing Everton's full-backs were to overlap. Nathan Patterson had some joy pushing forward and he had good chances in both halves of the match. He did not hit the target with either but on both occasions it was promising to see an Everton full-back in the opposition box. Mykolenko had a strong 20 minutes at the end of the first half - helped, as above, by Alcaraz leaving space in front of him as he drifted inside. Alcaraz and Armstrong picked out his runs with incisive balls and Youssef Chermiti twice came close when meeting the crosses of the Ukraine international. The composure of Harry Tyrer Harry Tyrer was the most senior goalkeeper available to Moyes, with Pickford absent and Travers having only signed earlier in the day. His role will now reduce given there are two first team options ahead of him but he could make a strong claim for the third spot in the first team squad, one vacated by Asmir Begovic. After good loan spells at Chesterfield and Blackpool, venues such as this are not unknown to him. But he showed composure and, while he may be disappointed with the manner of the Accrington goal, the problem came from Benn Ward being unmarked at the back post. Tyrer was particularly confident on the ball - important given how much the Everton back four relied on his willingness to take it.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Grant agrees new one-year deal at Accrington
Accrington Stanley have agreed a one-year contract extension with midfielder Conor only moved to Wham Stadium in February this season on a deal until the end of the the 30-year-old made 16 appearances and will now spend the whole of this campaign with Stanley."Conor's going to be massive going forward for us, he knows the place and the dressing room - he settled in straight away and hit the ground running," said , externalAccrington manager John Doolan.
