A familiar face training at The Hive today... 24-year-old Australian central defender Daniel Leach, who played 15 times for Barnet and made one substitute appearance last season.

Leach, who also played 12 games on loan for Dover Athletic earlier this year, was released by Barnet at the end of his one year contract before the appointment of Mark Stimson. The manager has now invited Leach to train with his New Look squad.

It's a year since the 6ft 3ins Leach arrived in England after playing for Oregon State University in the USA. An agent recommended him to Ian Hendon and the player went straight to the Bees' then training ground in Hertfordshire when he arrived in London. He played against Arsenal in the traditional pre-season friendly and was given a contract a few days later.

Leach met up with former team-mates Jake Cole, Joe Devera, Mark Hughes and Danny Hart this morning.

Footnote: Also training at The Hive is Phil Carpenter, the non-contract goalkeeper who understudied ever-present Cole from the substitutes' bench last season.


Dennis Signy