Jim Smith’s squad building project neared completion today, with the signing of three new players, plus the re-signing of one more. Goalkeeper Chris Tardif, the third and last of the out-of-contract players to be offered a new deal, signed a two-year extension today to give Billy Turley strong competition for the number 1 position. Tards was voted the Supporters Player of the Season in 2004/05, but lost his place to Turley at the start of last season. Despite strong performances when he did get selected, he was always considered second choice, or even third choice after the on-loan arrival of Andrea Guatelli. The Guernsey-born keeper is still only 25-years old, and is very popular with Oxford’s fans, who have been buoyed by the news of his retention.

The first new player to sign this morning, the squad’s first day of training at their new Milton Heights training ground, was Gavin Johnson. Johnson was most recently at Northampton, where he helped the Cobblers to automatic promotion last season, and prior to that the 35-year old defender had played for Colchester United, Wigan Athletic, and Ipswich Town. Although Johnson has looked about 50 since he was 17, he is actually a pretty useful two-footed left back, and should certainly prove a more than adequate replacement for Matt Robinson.

Following Johnson’s arrival came the news that former Southend United right winger Carl Pettefer joined, for two years as opposed to Johnson’s one. Pettefer is known to Jim Smith and Andy Awford from his time at Portsmouth, but more recently he helped Southend to promotion from the fourth division, although he missed much of last season’s third division promotion campaign due to injury. At 5’7″ Petts could usefully fill that role of pre-match mascot, should a niche be available.

The final new signing, the fifth of the close-season, was Eddie Hutchinson, who was released by Brentford at the end of last season. The 24-year old midfielder has been at Griffin Park since he was 18, signing from Sutton United. He was also a target of Notts County, Huddersfield, and some non-league outfit from Wiltshire, but he chose United so that he could stay in London, where his girlfriend is due to give birth.

Someone else on the verge of becoming a father is Jamie Brooks, who has turned down the option of a two-year contract at fourth division Chester City to sign for Didcot Town. Brooks was released by the Us at the end of last season, never having recovered the form he showed prior to his life-threatening clash with Guillane-Barre syndrome, which also scuppered a trial with Arsenal. Brooks will be joining another former United proteg