Stuart Gray, captain of Rushden & Diamonds last season, today joined Oxford to become Brian Talbot’s second signing of the summer. Gray is 31 years old and, although he received Scotland under-21 caps, was actually born in Harrogate, when his Dad, Eddie, was playing for Leeds United.

Gray is a left-sided midfielder, and can also play in defence. He is the second club captain from Northants that Talbot has signed (Chris Willmott from Northampton being the first), so we can expect raids on Corby and Kettering in the near future. Gray earlier turned down an offer of a new contract from R&D boss Barry Hunter, despite earlier having apparently agreed terms, for a better offer. He even claims that Oxford are a big club, which is nice.

Meanwhile, as one player comes, another is told that he can leave. Defender Leo Roget, who played briefly under Talbot at Rushden, has been told that if he can find another club he can leave on a free transfer. Roget was signed from the Diamonds at the start of last season by Graham Rix, but he never really delivered and made too many errors to be considered a regular starter. For someone who was reputed to be one of the highest earners at the club there was no sensible reason for retaining him, although his high wages might well be offputting for other potentially interested clubs.

This evening the KasStad sees the first Fans Forum since the Argentinean era, and there are bound to be certain issues raised about the untimely ending of that particular experiment. Rage Online will have a full report later this evening, assuming we’re not barred!