http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/ashton-united-manager-squad-update-2099/
If that is true, that is a truly great re-signing
A good signing if true, a bit raw 3 years ago but should be more experienced now, he was popular and many felt should have played more, onwards and upwards :cheer:
I agree; a great signing.
WHS.
Worries me a bit this one if I’m honest.
I rated Kearney highly as a ‘potential’ quality player when he was last at Witton, however he didn’t particular exit with dignity. At the time he rubbed a few fans noses up the wrong way and at one stage sent a text stating his amusement at the club’s demise! This was sent to someone other than me but I read it at the time. Interesting how these things come back to haunt you!
This bit of the Guardian article bothers me;
[i] “Ian was offered more money to join Witton."
“I will never hold any player back from bettering themselves, but my only disappointment with losing him is as that he’s dropped down a division.”[/i]
He left for Ashton previously based on more money when we were in the Prem (and by all accounts it was not a lot of extra money per week, in fact a tiny amount!)
Why is he choosing to drop a league? Is the true reason money and if so is this not the kind of player we said we didn’t want to sign? Plus are we really able to pay more wages than he was on in the Prem?
As I said at the top of this post, potentially a very good player, but concerns over his motivation and certainly as far as I am concerned a fair bit to prove.
Good comments Rabbit !
definately a good signing. should have been a regular in the side a few years ago, then maybe we wouldn’t be in the state we are now. welcome back ian, just play as we know you can.
Ian’s parents did business with my daughter last year. Although my daughter has only attended a couple of games in the last few years, they recognised her as my daughter!!
At the meeting they both expressed that they wished Ian could return to Witton as they both enjoyed his stay at Witton.
They said Ian also enjoyed his time at Witton and hoped there would be some way that events would allow his return.
I believe he has signed for us, but paper work is still going through, hence no official statement from the club, but he has trained for us this week.
I always thought he was a good central defender, and his left foot distribution was second to none. So much to say, I thought he would be more effective at the time as a holding mildfield player, where his distribution could have been put to more benefit.
If this signing goes through, I believe this is a briliant move by the new management team and bodes well for the new season
I belive IK works for IKEA so he should fit nicely into our " Flat pack four " ?
You should have had a bit more sleep 
So Kearney to be Captain for the new season!
Be interesting to watch how this plays out. I hope it’s good news and wish him well with the role and I am sure he will get good support from players, manager and fans.
Personally, he would not have been my choice as Captain, not because he is not a good player, but I am not sure he is loud enough, is particularly a leader, is old enough or can be trusted enough to be the link between management and the players.
It could prove to be a very good choice, it just wouldn’t have been the one I would have made.
Suprised at your info WR lets hope then he has grown up and is better for the experience, where did the infon about him being captain come from ?
Completely agree CJ, hopefully the experience of captaining Ashton will have matured him a little and my hope is that he is a really key player for us next season.
Ogden has said he will captain Witton, the story is on the official club website.
I agree with a fair bit of what WR has posted.
He was one of those who jumped ship very quickly last time out, he can’t have held either the club, the supporters, or Nigel Deeley in very high regard if his exit is anything to go by.
He did play the odd game for us in midfield TT if i remember rightly (think he came on away at Burscough soon after joining us?).
His playing ability is not in question, and i think his injury against Lincoln arguably cost us the league title that year.
In my honest opinion, his previous actions do not make him a suitable candidate for capatin at this moment in time. If he earned the honour (which is how it should be viewed) over the first dozen games of the season then i would feel differently, but to be handed it in order for him to return to the club is something which i strongly disagree with.
I thought Ian was a very good player, and thoroughly under-used by JV when here prevously. I found him a decent lad when we travelled up to Gateshead on the team bus. At the time i hoped to see him make many appearances for Witton Albion, and expected him to be Pritch’s natural successor (we even tried to make a song up to that effect!).
At this moment in time i will reserve judgement. We need as manay good players as we can get, however i do think he has some work to do before some of us will forget how he was so quick to walk out on us (and his ‘comments’ afterwards).
Great signing I reckon and im sure Ian will give it his best as player and captain.
Onwards and upwards come on Witerrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!
Good signing for us. I have heard from a very good source that in fact he is joining Witton for less money than he was on at Ashton. Looks like the squad is taking shape very nicely and should be a good mix of experiance and youth. Lets not start doubting the squad before the season has started,… at least wait until after the first game :laugh: :laugh: ;)… (that was a joke 
)
Captain,assistant manager and a coach on the pitch at the same time - be more noise on the pitch than the terraces !
Hopefully it will drown out your moaning then
oddfellow wrote:
That would go a long way in making a commitment to the club. I remember when he signed originally I believe he paid half the £1,000 paid (if my memory serves me correctly).
I want to believe that his actions on his departure previously were nothing more than a bit of immaturity. On the pitch Kearney never let anyone down and I am certainly prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. I still unsure on his taking the role of captaincy but that’s the managers choice and Kearney’s experience having captained Ashton will have had a bearing on that.
The honest truth is that with Pritch and Macca part of the management team there were candidates left for the role. Maybe Heler was the only viable alternative after his performances and awards of last season.