WILL former Jamaican international Trevor Benjamin make Sunshine George Cross the 25th club of his rollercoaster senior career? English football’s most famous nomad joined Blue Square South outfit Woking on 20 November but that hasn’t stopped George Cross coach Andy O’Dell from courting the former million pound striker. “I’m a cheeky bugger, me. It’s called negotiating skills and believe me he’s really interested,” said O’Dell. Already in the 2009/10 season Benjamin has played for Tamworth and Harrogate Town leaving the latter early in November when his monthly deal was not renewed. He signed with Woking on non-contract terms. Benjamin was the subject of a £1.3 million transfer fee in 2000 when signed by then Leicester City manager Peter Taylor from Cambridge United. But O’Dell’s push to bolster his front line doesn’t stop there. He’s already been talking to former West Bromwich Albion striker Stuart Nicholson and former Norwich City forward Nick Davey. Nicholson, 22, scored two Premier League goals for WBA during his three-year stint there and has had loan spells at Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and Wrexham. Davey, 19, joined Norwich’s academy in 2005 and accepted a scholarship with the Canaries in 2007. He wasn’t offered a professional contract when that scholarship ended this year. Already O’Dell has signed 26-year-old Irish midfielder Barry Devlin from West Australian Premier League club Western Knights. Devlin won Knights’ best and fairest last season. He’s been joined at Cross by Scottish midfielder or full-back Gary Greenhill, signed from another WA club Perth SC. Greenhill, 24, has played with Dunfermline, Berwick Rangers and East Fife. O’Dell’s biggest coup to date could be the clinching of Steven Beck’s signature. The talented 25-year-old central midfielder is a former England under-16 international who was in the same Everton youth academy side as the great Wayne Rooney. Beck made one appearance for the Everton first team in a friendly against Chester City in July 2002. He joined Welsh Premier League outfit The New Saints in 2003 and has played in the Champions League and UEFA Cup. O’Dell also has lured 22-year-old Liverpool-born Adam Dugdale to Cross. Dugdale is a central defender who has been on the books of Crewe Alexandra, Southport, Droylsden and Barrow. O’Dell also has been active on the local market with winger Trent Waterson returning to the fold after stints with South Melbourne and Oakleigh.
The news is not so bright concerning last season’s captain Wayne Wallace who is back in England and may not return due to personal reasons while Jack Webster has signed with Bentleigh Greens.