GLOUCESTER CITY AFC PRESS RELEASE

From: Gloucester City Football Club

Date: 25 June 2007

TITLE: WHITTINGTON RETURNS TO THE TIGERS IN PERMANENT DEAL

Gloucester City manager Tim Harris has further boosted his striking options by signing Michael Whittington, who was released by Cheltenham Town at the end of last season. Whittington is no stranger to Meadow Park, having enjoyed loan spells with the club whilst at Cheltenham that had yielded 13 goals from just 20 games.

That strike-rate, and his obvious talent, have made "Whitts" a firm favourite with the Meadow Park faithful, and coupled with the signing of the prolific Jack Pitcher recently shows clear intent by Gloucester City to provide a ferocious attacking threat this coming season. Manager Tim Harris says; "We are well aware of what Michael is capable of, and what he can achieve with an extended run in a team. There has been a lot of interest in him, as there always is in goal scorers, but he has chosen to come here because he sees this as a club that can help him with his ambitions of a return to the full-time game. We are more than happy with that ambition. If he works hard and scores the goals then he can get noticed and achieve that aim - and both he and the club will be winners in that situation.

For his part Whittington is excited to be joining; “I had interest from a few clubs, and I have been around clubs at this level on loan but Gloucester is the one that stood out for me so it was an easy decision to make” says Whittington. “The club matches my ambition, Tim is a good manager who knows how to get the best from his team, and the fans are fantastic every match, really getting behind the team. I have had a disjointed year with loan spells at various clubs, but now things are settled I am looking to get a good run in the side, build the confidence that all strikers feed off, and start showing my best form. Of course I want to get back into the professional game, everybody dreams of that, but the best way for me to achieve it is by being successful with Gloucester City, and that is what I intend to do.

Manager Tim Harris is still actively pursuing over player options as he looks forward to the new season. "It is my duty as manager of this team to constantly look to improve it" says Harris. "I am talking to players and to clubs all the time, but at the same time we have to be realistic. Some have said that Gloucester City are throwing money around this summer, but that simply isn't true, as a club we are still developing our commercial side, and after the hard work of the last few years we wont jeopardise the future of the club spending money we don't have. I remain on a very tight budget, but the simple fact is that we have players recognising what we are building here, and wanting to be a part of that. They are joining for the right reasons, which is very pleasing. But we continue to need Gloucestershire's business community to embrace this club and help us generate the cash that will enable success on the pitch."

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