Project provides those without a club an opportunity to stay in shape as they attempt to earn new contracts

When Omar Bogle was released by Newport County at the end of last season, the former Wigan and Cardiff striker could not quite believe what was happening. “It was hard,” he admits. “I spent about two or three weeks trying to get my head around being without a club at the start of pre-season. My missus and my family had to really push me to accept what had happened. Then the PFA [Professional Footballers Association] opportunity came up and I thought I should make the most of it. Now I’m here I don’t regret it at all.”

Bogle, who has racked up almost 150 goals in his career and joined Wigan from Grimsby in 2017 for a fee just shy of £1m, is by no means the only player at the PFA’s pre-season training camp in the plush surroundings of Champneys Springs spa boasting league experience. Among several other familiar faces, there’s also his former Newport teammate Offrande Zanzala and Milan Lalkovic, the Slovakian winger who is a Championship Manager legend and was once described as a star of the future by the Guardian when he was in Chelsea’s academy. “You got that wrong!” he says with a smile.

• North-east club determined to keep hold of star striker
• They are keen to extend his contract, which ends in 2028

Newcastle will do everything in their power to keep Alexander Isak on Tyneside and have let Chelsea and Arsenal know that it would take an astronomical offer to alter that stance.

Chelsea have made an initial inquiry for the Sweden striker but, given that club’s problems with ­meeting profitability and sus­tainability rules (PSR), there is considerable doubt at St James’ Park that they would be capable of paying a sum possibly well in excess of £100m for the 24-year-old.

• Chairman Ron Martin agrees deal with former sponsor
• Cosu consortium set to take over National League club

Southend’s winding‑up petition was dismissed at the high court on Wednesday after a late deal was struck “beyond the 11th hour” with the club’s last remaining creditor.

After a dramatic week when the National League told Southend to provide a £1m bond in order to compete in the coming season because of uncertainty over their financial situation, the club chairman, Ron Martin, was in London for the rescheduled hearing having been given an extra month to settle debts with the legal firm ­Stewarts and a former club sponsor.