United today announced, to general acclaim, that they have signed former loanee midfielder Barry Quinn. Quinn, who made five starts for United in his two months here at the end of last season, was one of nine players released by Coventry City a couple of weeks ago, and allegedly turned down approaches from a number of other clubs before signing for Oxford. Quinn’s games for Oxford showed him to be a creative ball-winning midfielder, who will surely grace the Third Division. Although he has not yet scored throughout his career, he has shown that he is not afraid to have a pop from distance, and it surely won’t be long before he breaks his duck.

While the Us were gaining one midfielder, they were also losing another, as Bristol Rovers announced that James Hunt will be joining them. Hunt started 81 games in his two seasons at the Kas, and his rejoining Ian Atkins, who was also his manager at Northampton, is probably the least surprising move of the close-season. Under Atkins Hunt was largely anonymous, breaking up play and then knocking the ball backwards to a defender to hoof forwards. His most memorable game was the 2-0 home defeat by Wrexham, when Hunt missed three sitters in the first half. Under Graham Rix he started to look more creative, coming forwards and beating players.

In other news, former United goalie Andy Woodman has picked up a literary prize (who’d have thought it?) as his and Gareth Southgate’s book Woody and Nord picked up the award for Best Sports Book of the Year. He has promised to write an addendum about the goings on at United for when the book is released in paperback later this year. Former United players who have been released from their clubs include Robbie Mustoe at Sheffield Wednesday, Dean Windass at Bradford City, Garry Monk at Barnsley, and Paul Gerrard at Everton.