The man with no brain... (From Your Local Guardian)

The man with no brain...

5:33pm Thursday 21st May 2009

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A fortnight ago, with fireworks smoke barely cleared from the sky above the Griffin Park, our gaffer Andy Scott gave nine players the chop in a cull as ruthless as any of Stalin’s purges.

With the close season well and truly under way, Brentford fans have little to do except engage in transfer speculation more fevered than a Mexican pig farmer.

Our customary end-of-season axe-wielding was something of a surprise this time around after a title-winning campaign, but I am sure supporters agreed with the majority – if not all – of Scott’s decisions.

Perhaps Adam Newton and John Halls may have been shocked to be released and a few fans may have been tempted to keep on Glenn Poole and Gary Smith for old times’ sake but, with Scott’s exemplary record in the transfer market, coupled with his determination to make sure Brentford are a force to be reckoned with in League One next season, you would have to be churlish in the extreme to question any of his decisions too forcefully.

He has already stated there could be has many as 10 new signings to replace the outgoing players, meaning an exciting summer awaits.

This may sound like hyperbole but, in a period in which we have no football matches to attend, we supporters will clutch at any straws proffered.

The first round of speculation has been sparked by Notts County boss Ian McParland.

Regular readers of this column (hello mum!) will know I haven’t been a massive fan of The Brain since his nonsensical ranting about Londoners after our clash with the Magpies at Griffin Park in January.

This week, he has again shown the kind of acumen that makes Trigger look like Gail Trimble by revealing his intent to sign one of our loan stars of last season, Billy Clarke.

Any fool – McParland apart – knows that it is not advisable to let all and sundry know who your transfer targets are, and I just hope his wittering hasn’t scuppered our chances of nabbing the player.

I am certain Clarke would score goals in League One and, while I am not worried he will choose to slum it in League Two with Notts County next year, McParland’s comments may encourage other clubs to rush in with over-the-top contract offers that may blow any bid we make out of the water.

Wherever Clarke does end up, he certainly won’t be the last prospective signing over which we fuss and fret in the coming months, and I, for one, cannot wait.