As the season draws ever nearer it is a time of real concern for those players who have yet to secure themselves a new contract. Drewe Broughton has scored over 80 career goals but is still waiting for a contract offer from a Football League club. The powerful striker has appeared at 12 League clubs during his career and at the age of 29 believes his best days are still ahead of him. Broughton has turned down offers from Blue Square Premier Clubs and abroad in a bid to remain a Football League player and is holding his nerve as the season approaches. The Hitchin-born striker has worn the shirt of Norwich, Wigan, Brentford, Peterborough, Kidderminster, Southend, Rushden, Wycombe, Chester, Boston, MK Dons and Wrexham during his career and wants to sign on the dotted line for number 13. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively to Broughton about his plans as the big kick off approaches in nine days.
Q: YOUR CONTRACT EXPIRED AT MK DONS IN THE SUMMER – WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE?
A: Pete Winkleman at MK Dons said I could continue training with them during pre-season and wait for the new manager to arrive after Paul Ince left for Blackburn. I spent the first five days with them but then got the call from Mark Stimson to go and train with Gillingham. It was a tough call as MK Dons were due to go to Portugal as part of their build up but I took my chances at Gillingham.
Q: HOW DID THAT PAN OUT?
A: I went and trained and he was straight with me and told me that I was his number two target. However, he said he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to land his number one target and that would open the door for me. But Mark McCammon signed and that meant there was no chance of a deal for me and I had missed the boat at MK Dons as Roberto di Matteo had arrived during the trip to Portugal so any opportunity there had gone as well.
Q: THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER TRIALS AS WELL HAVEN’T THERE?
A: I trained by myself for a while and then got the call from Mark Robins at Rotherham. I went and scored in a training ground friendly against York and then played for an hour against Scunthorpe. He told me that because of the current financial situation at Rotherham things were up in the air but I was welcome to carry on training with them and hopefully the situation would improve. I live in Milton Keynes and can't really afford to stay in Rotherham without any guarantees so I went to Luton.
Q: IT WAS A SIMILAR SCENARIO THERE WASN'T IT?
A: I played and scored against a local non-league team in a friendly for them as well. However, the situation is the same there and Mick Harford said they couldn't do anything because of the club being in administration at the time. There is always a danger that you could pick up an injury when you are on trial at these clubs and that would leave you high and dry. But you need to put yourself out there to try and get a deal so it is a difficult situation. * Read more on Drewe Broughton's quest for a contract next week on givemefootball.com…
