In the Championship – Preparations start

Even so it has been another quiet week everywhere, apart from possibly at Colchester and Hull where World War III has broken out over the future of current, or is that ex, Colchester boss Phil Parkinson.

The story is simple, Parkinson wants to leave and Hull want him, but Colchester have refused his resignation and on Friday successfully won an injunction in the High Court. This has led to the two clubs attacking each other and on Friday the Hull chairman Adam Pearson said: “It appears shockingly vindictive of Mr Heard (Colchester chairman) to prevent Mr. Parkinson from earning a living when he has done so much for Colchester United.”

Clearly Phil Parkinson cannot continue to work at Colchester and he will obviously move to Hull, and a compensation fee of £100,000 has been mentioned. I certainly wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall in the boardroom when those two clubs meet next season.

There's been some good news and further bad news to add to all that for Colchester during the last week. Despite having no manager to speak of they actually signed a player, taking Johnnie Jackson from Spurs. The player has previous Championship experience following loan spells with Coventry, Watford and Derby. He's played for Colchester before, on loan during the 2002/03 season.

But they've finally lost former Blackburn midfielder Neil Danns. He's moved on to Birmingham for an initial £500,000 fee after almost two years at Layer Road that has seen the club promoted twice.

Birmingham were in need of a midfield player with the news that Muzzy Izzet's career looks to be over at the age of 31. He's struggled with injury and it is believed a package will be agreed that will see him leave the club a year before the end of his contract. Izzet has started just twenty league games in two years at St Andrew's.

Andy Johnson - signed for Leicester

Leicester boss Rob Kelly was busy in the transfer market again last week, making two signings on the same day. Josh Low joined from Northampton as did experienced midfielder Andy Johnson who has moved on from West Brom. The 32 year old Johnson in particular was in demand and has left the Hawthorns after five years.

The Foxes are also interested in former Coventry and Sunderland player Colin Healy who ended last season with Livingston. They face competition from Ipswich and Stoke, with the player looking more than likely to return to English football.

If he goes to Stoke he will become the second signing since Tony Pulis returned as manager. Just prior to his departure from Plymouth he was trying to tie up a permanent deal for striker Vincent Pericard who had been on loan with the Devon club from Portsmouth. He tied that deal up finally last week by signing him for Stoke.

There could be a revolving striker door at Norwich, almost of Neil Warnock standards, with two tipped to move on and another striker coming in. Peter Thorne looks to have jumped ahead of Gifton Noel-Williams in the queue to join Brighton whilst the big surprise is that Mark Hughes could target Robert Earnshaw to replace the departed Craig Bellamy at Blackburn.

With that in mind Nigel Worthington is keen to sign Rob Hulse from Leeds. He looks to have become surplus to requirements at Elland Road but Worthington needs to be aware he faces real competition from the striker master Warnock himself who would like to take him to Bramall Lane in a deal that would see Geoff Horsfield join Leeds.

Whilst on the subject of Leeds strikers, and in particular those who scored fifteen goals a season, it looks as if Dave Jones is keen on taking Ian Moore to Cardiff. That will upset Tranmere where Ronnie Moore wanted ‘Our Ian' to return to Merseyside. Jones is expecting to bring in at least another four players and it is almost certain now that one of them will be Jason Koumas who has just had such a successful season with them on loan.

Damion Stewart - the Jamaican has signed for QPR

QPR have signed Jamaican international defender Damion Stewart from Harbour View. Their application for a work permit was successful last week enabling them to complete the deal. Stewart has played on loan with Bradford City and was in the Jamaican team beaten recently by England.

Preston were in the market last week with Paul Simpson completing the signing of Leeds winger Danny Pugh. It was Simpson's first signing but he could be selling this week following a bid for Tyrone Mears from Charlton.

Poor Preston chairman Derek Shaw is angry once more, it has become something of a weekly event. Firstly it was the midget in the suit, then it was Claude Davis and now it is Mears' agent he has lost it with. Once more though Shaw will make the decision that is, ‘In the best interests of Preston North End' which has become the most used quote in football this summer.

Meanwhile that midget as arranged a pre-season friendly with Franchise, and when the Derby fans complained to their chairman he admitted to knowing nothing about it. It looks as though Billy is stamping his feet and getting his own way again.

Premiership Wigan, having been accused last week by Birmingham for unsettling Emile Heskey, have now made an offer for three West Brom players. They offered a £10 million package for three players, including former striker Nathan Ellington, but have been told no deal by the relegated club.

Up in the north east Sunderland have gone and upset their fans again. The take over is apparently still imminent and so there has still been no appointment of a new manager. With pre-season training about to start it was assumed that Kevin Ball would continue in charge. Not so, they have snubbed Bally and asked Kevin Richardson to take over temporarily.

Sunderland say it is not a snub, that Bally has academy matters to deal with. It didn't bother them when they put him in charge of the first team last season and no matter what the words, the fans have seen it as nothing other than a snub. And Sunderland fans don't take kindly to that where Kevin Ball is concerned.

We end this week with news of a game that is so big the police have had to intervene and make it all ticket. So, if you are attending the pre-season game between Isthmian League club Great Wakering Rovers and Southend United on 19^th July, please make sure you have a ticket.