As the ruins of last season subside, yet more of the Latin American experiment has been consigned to history with the disappointing news that none of the foreign contingent of players introduced by Ramon Diaz will be here next season. New manager Brian Talbot has not offered a new deal to midfielder Lucas Cominelli, despite the Argentinean’s desire to remain. In addition, neither Uruguayan defender Mateo Corbo, currently at home in Spain, nor Argentine play-maker Juan Pablo Raponi, who was on loan from River Plate, have been given new deals, both having missed Talbot’s meet-the-players meeting at the end of the season.

French midfielder Amine Karam was apparently offered a new contract for next season, but this was declined by his agent. This is particularly sad because in our humble, but inevitably correct, opinion this lad is destined for stardom. This leaves Barry Quinn, and possibly Dave Mackay, as the only foreigner left in the squad, although if the rumours are true then he could be joined by French midfielder Thomas Pinault from Grimsby. Certainly, with the release of Paul Wanless and Danny Brown, the midfield is an area desperately in need of strengthening, as is the defence now Corbo (and Wanny) has definitely gone.

In other pieces of vaguely related player news, former United goalkeeper Andy Woodman has been appointed as player-coach at Rushden & Diamonds, who have released their number 2 keeper Lee Worgan. Mickey Lewis is due to start as coach alongside Dave Penney up at Doncaster, while former United right-back Scott McNiven has been released by Mansfield.

An addition to the list of pre-season friendlies is the annual curtain-raiser against Oxford City at Court Place Farm. This is due to be played on Tuesday 19 August, although we await official confirmation of this, as we do with the Yeading and Brighton games previously mentioned.