Kevin and Julian and Stefano

Pards always told us there wouldn't be any Big Signings especially after getting the thumbs down from Davids, Smertin and Pressley and the search continues for soon-to-be-out-of-contract reserves who somehow can be persuaded to see a Premiership Relegation battle as a way of stimulating their careers.

The "Kevin" option relates to Kevin Amuneke who is a 20-year old Nigerian currently playing at Victoria Setubal in Portugal. He's only been there since last summer when he left the Swedish side Landskrona rather acrimoniously. Relations between Amuneke and Landskrona hit the rocks following the team's relegation from the top league last season when Landskrona reportedly rejected a US$700,000 bid from Swedish champions Djurgarden, prompting an angry strike from the player.

Lars Persson, the Landkrona's sports director, strangely for a team turning down 700 grand, said his team will not miss the striker and was very direct in his comments, "We will not miss him. He was not part of our plans this season," Persson said. So hard done by Amuneke returned to Portugal where he's had previous spells with both FC Porto and Benfica.

Kevin is, in case you missed it, the brother of former 1994 African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke who just 10 short years ago was brought by Barcelona but never forefilled his promise due to injuries making just 19 appearances and was last seen on Spanish TV doing adverts for his football skills video.......

In keeping with the current vogue of chasing people with famous relatives, is the pursuit of FC Groningen midfielder 24 year-old Stefano Seedorf. He is, of course, the cousin of Milan star Clarence Seedorf, the only man to win the Champions League with three different clubs. Stefano, and if you believe everything you read, is a fast paced (!) technical midfielder and the most creative and forward minded player in the Groningen midfield..... He started his career with Ajax, then Breda and has been at Groningen for 3 years.

Also in the frame is 27 year-old left winger Julian Gray. After unfortunate spells at both the Arse and the Palarse, you'd think he'd be enjoying himself up at the Brum but not so and is now looking for a move back to London to be near his brothers and cousins, no doubt.