Gratuitous tittle-tattle

During this excessively quiet period of the close season, with none of the familiar legal battles (yet) to spice things up for United supporters and precious little happening on the transfer front, it's the unfounded rumours and dangerous gossip that gets us all filling in our time whilst waiting for season ticket renewal forms, or next season's fixtures, or minor irrelevancies like the World Cup which at least gives us some footy to keep us going in the Summer.

Top of the list of unconfirmed possibilities is Cambridge United midfielder Ian Ashbee, who has been released by the other Us after six seasons. 25 year old Ashbee was previously at Derby County, but Oxford are one team that has allegedly spoken to him.

More unconfirmed reports suggest that, in the least surprising transfer deal of the Summer, Ian Atkins is likely to offer left back Lee Maddison a deal. Maddison played on loan for United for eleven games last season and was generally solid if unspectacular. His best feature was that his presence gave Paul Powell the freedom to express himself as a winger and it was no coincidence that Powell's best games last season were when he had Maddison behind him.

Former United players Ross Weatherstone and ex-ROS Jamie Cook have been transfer listed by Boston United, so it's unlikely we'll see them back at the Manor next season. Cook is apparently interesting FA Trophy losing finalists Stevenage Borough. At QPR Andy Thomson is out of contract, but it is thought that he will be offered new terms by Rangers, who have released Christer Warren. Warren played two or three games on trial for United's reserves towards the end of last season and didn't do too badly, so he could possibly be on his way Mincherywards. Mark Stein has signed a new one year contract for Dagenham & Redbridge.

Brooks does it again

Not content with sweeping the boards with all the various player of the season trophies up for grabs, Jamie Brooks has gone on to win the prestigious Rage Online Readers Player of the Season Poll. Brooks, still recovering in hospital from his mystery virus, ran up an impressive 46% of the vote, with his closest rival, surprisingly Dave Savage, only clocking up 27%.

The weakest link award went to the now departed Robert Quinn, whose 20% just saw him edge ahead of Paul Tait and Sam Stockley.