The identity of the “mystery striker” we have been negotiating with was revealed by the Manager last night at the “Meet the Manager” evening. Love him or hate him (and there seems to be nothing in between), we have re-signed old boy Michael Ricketts.

The one England cap wonder has always had a love hate relationship with fans, ever since he was perceived as not giving his all as a youngster, prior to his big money move to Bolton. His record for the North West club was exemplary, scoring the goals that got them promoted and also running up a fair few in the Premiership (one memorable example being at Highbury) and that gained him his one and only England call up from Sven against Holland.

Once he was sold to Middlesboro, however, his career has been on a downward spiral, with a poor spell at Leeds, then a disastrous one at Southend. He seemed to be getting his act in order, however, during a loan spell at Preston at the back end of the season before last and, after moving to Oldham, came to us on loan last season, during our most successful weeks of the 2007/8 season and played a large part in the teams success at that time.

What was obvious last year is that, despite everything, he was a class above this division, giving central defenders nightmares, and it was a real disappointment when we couldn’t come to an arrangement with him (or, more likely, his agent) in January.

Fans have been looking for a “headline signing” in the close season and Michael Ricketts certainly fits the bill and cold be the catalyst for the side to really spark in the coming season.