News round-up on D-Day

Tonight is a huge night for Stevenage Borough Football Club. Tonight is the night that will more or less determine whether the club will have the chance to play for football league status in the play-offs. Basically what a win will do tonight is make Sunday the next ‘Biggest game of the club’s history’ and so on. I’m confident we can do it and beat Kidderminster. They haven’t been in great form recently and although they beat us just over two weeks ago, I think a lot of that was down to the dismissal of Darren Murphy. As long as nothing like that is repeated tonight, then I think we will win the game. We do that and I think we can start to think of at least another 2 games being extended to our fixture list.

Yesterday saw the announcement on the official site that Mitchell Cole has penned a new two year contract extension. Cole’s current deal was set to expire at the end of June. I think it’s good news that the club has secured the signature of Cole for at least another two seasons. He’s had form and injury problems since moving from Southend in January 2007, but he is a matchwinner. He is a player that is still developing and improving and if he can stay injury free, then he can be a big player for us in the next two seasons. This season has seen Cole at his most consistent. He’s stayed relatively injury free, although his general fitness is still a concern. He’s got 14 goals in 39 appearances so far this campaign and has proved to be a vital member of the Boro set-up.

Elsewhere, current Boro loanee Junior Mendes has been told by Aldershot boss Gary Waddock that he will be released in the summer. Mendes’ contract is up at the end of June and he along with Rhys Day and Rob Elvins are not in the Shots’ plans for next season. I’ve been happy with the contribution Mendes has made so far since joining Boro last month. His goal against Cambridge obviously is the one thing that stands out, but I think he has been a solid performer on the right hand side of midfield, even though that isn’t his natural position. However, I doubt that Mr Westley will be giving the 32 year old a permanent deal come the summer.

Boro legend George Boyd has told SkySports.com that he would be open to extending his Peterborough contract beyond 2011. Boyd has been a huge hit at London Road since joining in 2007 and has no plans of moving on any time soon. Stevenage reportedly have a 40% sell on clause agreed with Posh if Boyd is sold, so any big money transfer that occurs in the future will have dividends for Phil Wallace and co. Boyd, along with Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron McLean have been big factors behind their promotion winning season last year and what looks like will be another promotion this year. Barry Fry is also quoted as saying that he would ask for up to £15m for the trio after apparent interest from Scottish champions Celtic.