Paul Merson’s squad rebuilding plans for the Summer were completely disrupted today as “number one target” Julian Joachim decided to accept a two year contract offer with Boston United of the Second Division.

Joachim was educated in Boston, so he will be joining a club he knows well, but this is a surprise in that he will be joining a club in a lower Division. Even more surprisingly, it seems that Leeds United have done a deal on the termination of his contract with Boston, despite having refused to do the same for Walsall. Boston have also offered him a two year deal, which, in view of his injury record in recent seasons, seems very risky.

Joachim had told Paul Merson that he would not consider any other offers without speaking first to the Walsall Player-Manager, so this is a personal kick in the teeth for Merson too. Merson does seem to have been considering alternatives should the Joachim deal fall through, so, hopefully, everything is not lost.