There were plenty of comings, and one going, at the KasStad today, as United announced the signing of five new players (although two of them were already here, so that’s cheating). Up and coming superlative goalkeeper Simon Cox signed an unheard of three-year deal as his performances at the end of last season reaped dividends for him. Reserve defender Adam Garner signed a professional contract for the first time, albeit only for three months. Manager Graham Rix has said that it is up to Garner to prove himself in this time, and if he does he will be duly rewarded.

The three new players are all ones who have impressed on trial with the reserves recently. They include left-back Terry Parker, who comes from Rix’s old stomping ground Portsmouth, where he hasn’t played for the first team, and who played for United’s reserves in their defeat at Swansea earlier this month. Two former Wimbledon players have also signed on two year deals. Online auctioneers’ favourite Mark E’Beyer, who played in midfield against Bristol Rovers reserves, and striker Danny Morgan, who scored a hat-trick in the same game, both joined today. All these players are considered as “potential”, and are expected to be challenging for first-team places and eventually breaking through.

Leaving the ranks of the blessed is former captain and penalty taker, Andy Crosby. Crosby, Ian Atkins’s first signing at United, has joined Scunthorpe on a two-year deal. Crosby was offered a contract by Rix, but it is thought that it was on drastically reduced terms and he has decided to return closer to his roots.

Despite bringing in five players (okay, three really) today there are further signings promised. Newspapers have linked Oxford with two players. This Is Guernsey reckons that United are favourites to sign Portsmouth ‘keeper Chris Tardif, who is currently in Spain having talks with Spanish 2nd Division side Cadiz. Why should this be in a Channel Islands newspaper? Apparently Tardif hails from Guernsey. Similarly, the Evening Telegraph claims that Oxford are in a chase, along with Dundee United and Stockport, for Dundee’s highly rated Scottish under-21 defender Lee Mair. Interestingly, the journalist who broke the story seems to think that Oxford have money to spend, which perhaps they do in comparison with the two Dundee clubs. This story does tie in with the rumour that two of the six players that Rix looked at on trial last week were from Dundee. More news when it happens (or else we’ll just make it up).