Signings are like buses, you wait around ages for one and then four come along at once. Former youth team player Andy Gray re-signed for his former club after a fourteen year absence following his release from Barnsley at the end of last season. Gray had been on trial with Leeds United for a couple of weeks and signed a one year deal after scoring a brace of goals in Leeds’ first pre-season game against Farsley FC on Friday. Gray previously made 29 appearances for the club and will be remembered by Leeds fans as being one of our better players in the 1996 League Cup final.Fellow trialist goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown has also signed a deal to join Leeds on a permanent basis. Neil Warnock had made it clear that he was looking to bring in another goalkeeper after allowing Andy Lonergan to move to Bolton and Ashdown will now provide competition for Paddy Kenny. Thirty one year old Ashdown has made over 100 appearances for Portsmouth during a spell spanning eight years. Ashdown joined up with the squad on pre-season tour in Cornwall and made his debut as a second half substitute against Tavistock.
To complete a trio of former Portsmouth players a deal has also been agreed to bring striker Luke Varney to the club on a two year contract. Twenty nine year old Varney started his career at non-league Quorn before being spotted and signed by Crewe Alexandra. He was signed by Charlton in 2007 for a fee of £2 million and has since had spells at Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and most recently Blackpool and Portsmouth. Varney made 30 appearances in Blackpools Premier League season scoring five goals.
Leeds are also confident of bringing Jamaican international Rodolph Austin to the club stating that a deal has been agreed. The formalities of paperwork and work permits will have to be concluded before the signing is officially confirmed. Austin who currently plays for SK Brann in Norway has become a bit of a cult hero amongst Leeds fans on Twitter and the message boards has already become well known for his tough tackling, no nonsense play. Austin can play at the back or in midfield and may be that bit of steel we have been missing in the centre the park for some time.
Friday also saw the end of the Aidy White contract saga with the left winger finally putting pen to paper on a new three year deal. It follows much speculation about a move to Derby or Celtic after his contract ran out at the end of last season.
Commenting after the six nil demolition of Tavistock in their second pre-season game manager Neil Warnock said that the crucial signings are still to come.
