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Why Barness deal is great for Lewes
10:00am Saturday 5th July 2008
Anthony Barness has given Lewes fans a huge boost as they prepare for their opening pre-season friendly.
The former Charlton, Chelsea and Bolton defender has re-signed for the club ahead of their debut season in Blue Square premier.
Barness, 36, was a key member of their Blue Square south championship winning side last season.
He is now the only member of that squad still at the club in the wake of a mass exodus following the departure of title winning boss Steven King.
The news of one player staying at the club might not sound too big but it is one more than most expected.
It has been a summer of discontent at the Dripping Pan since Lewes told King his services were no longer required as the club looked to cut costs.
His replacement, Kevin Keehan, is building a new-look side with the likes of Bognor pair Chris Breach and Seb Wallis-Tayler, Worthing goalkeeper Rikki Banks, Horsham defender Tom Graves and Havant striker Chamal Fenelon, who finished last season on loan at Chichester.
Those signings have failed to lift the mood of fans but Barness agreeing to stay on a one-year contract is certainly a welcome boost.
Barness, who cost Chelsea £350,000 when he joined them in September 1992, made 272 League appearances culminating in a spell in the Championship with Plymouth.
He left there in January 2007 and had a short stint at Grays before being snapped up by Lewes, initially as a stop-gap, at the start of last season.
Fans soon took to Barness and King called him "My 7 out of ten man" in reference to the consistency of Barness's performances. He rarely made a mistake and set up key goals including Paul Booth's header in the title-clinching win against Dorchester.
Keehan was keen to keep hold of Barness and was delighted to clinch his signature at training on Thursday evening.
He said: "It is fantastic news because he is such a true professional.
"He retains the ball, which is what you want as a manager. He brings a lot of experience and he can play in a few different positions.
"I think he was a bit wary of signing until he had seen the other players we had.
"But he has been training at five of the sessions and has been impressed enough with what we have seen. We are very pleased to get him."
Keehan has been working non-stop to try to bring in some experienced players to work alongside the youngsters he will be putting his faith in next season.
The likes of Gary Hart, Kerry Mayo and Paul Reid, who were released by Albion at the end of last season, plus former Seagull Richard Carpenter and ex-Tranmere, Plymouth and Bolton striker Scott Taylor have all been linked with a move to the Dripping Pan.
Keehan is hoping to be able to reveal further plans about his squad in the next few days.
He said: "On Monday or Tuesday we might have some good news.
"I am quite happy with the way things are shaping up but I am still looking for a big centre half."
Who should Lewes go for now? Let us know below.
Your Say YourArgus
Silly Billy, Lewes says...
4:23pm Sat 5 Jul 08
informs me what the good news may well be:
Chuck Martini, former Moroccan international keeper to sign from Godalming Town very soon plus The Rooks are rumoured to be in talks with ex Worthing frontman Ben Carrington who has returned to the U.K. and is looking for a club in the area close to his home in Eastbourne.
Big D, Sussex says...
9:51pm Sat 5 Jul 08
And Ringer Rook, yep raising funds through marketing in the middle of a credit crunch with a recession looming. Are Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling the real masterminds behind the Rooks?
billy, spain says...
6:24pm Sun 6 Jul 08
just a small point. why is it the trouble causers and doom merchants are always first to stick one in.
true rooks fans are looking forward to the new season.
Frank Graham, Hove says...
9:33pm Mon 7 Jul 08
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Ringmer Rook, Ringmer says...
11:37am Sat 5 Jul 08
One of the squad has just re-signed and the local media think it's great. Anthony Barness is a decent and consistent player, but signing one decent player who shouldn't have left anyway is not great.
Kevin Keehan is a marketing manager whose only experience of managing football teams is at lower Sussex county league level. With the help of a local consortium he has installed himself as manager of Lewes. The consortium have not put any money into the club, but will raise funds through marketing. We're talking small market town in the heart of Sussex here.
The players who have joined the club come from Horsham, Worthing, Bognor and Chichester. They are being asked to compete at the highest non-league level against the likes of Mansfield, Wrexham, York, Oxford Utd et al.
Keehan is "quite happy with the way things are shaping up".
What is that I hear in the clouds?.. Cuckoo.. Cuckoo..