On one day, Bradford City snapped up one young, precocious talent but missed out on an experienced midfielder who refused to take a medical. It just about encapsulates our summer.
The Scottish youth international is Scott Brown, a player described by manager Peter Jackson as the best 16-year-old he's ever seen. The second player is believed to be Tommy Miller, who now appears destined for Huddersfield Town.
But the bitter-sweet news has one been coming through all summer. We've staved off the threat of leaving behind our Valley Parade home, with Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn instead taking further hold of the club but on the flip side seen a proposed takeover turn down - some have welcomed the possible investment, some are a little more cautious of the news.
We've appointed a new manager, a club hero who many fans are glad to see; but on the flip-side his form was poor at the end of last season and he wasn't everyone's first choice. Jackson, though, to his credit, has brought in a wealth of men to add muscle to the coaching set-up and we have a new chief scout, with all the passion, hunger and contacts necessary.
We've also unveiled a new kit. A return to claret and amber, though one with flashed stripes; but on the flip-side a bright, gaudy pink away kit.
But in the end, what will count is the talent on the pitch. To that means, our stand-out signing is Guy Branston; a tough, experienced centre back with a pedigree at our level, just the sort of man we need to build a spine around and one who should hopefully bring on Steve Williams who is still learning the game. Then of course, there's the undoubted goal-getting talent of Ross Hannah. And eventually we landed Scottish pair Chris Mitchell and Mark Stewart. Brown made it a triumvirate this week.
But for every positive, there's been a set back. One of the best goalkeepers in the Conference, Sam Russell, reputedly turned down a two-year deal to stay with current club Darlington but on a shorter deal. Gary Jones, another midfielder with form at our level and above, also declined to move away from his current club. Then there was the strike duo of Ashley Grimes and Clayton Donaldson who opted for higher league football. The latter was particularly heart-wrenching. We'd paid for his family to have a box at the final game of the season. What they saw was Donaldson tearing us apart. Perhaps it was that frailty which put him off his hometown club, but in the end all he could manage to say was he believed League Two was beneath him. Miller makes it five.
It's difficult to remember a summer where we've missed out on so many signings. But big signings too. Those five would have ensured a very strong spine to our team and one you'd believe in. That said, Stuart McCall set out his transfer path three years ago, landed the lot, then we missed out in the final run-in. Instead we'll have to judge Jackson's squad when it runs out in August, rather than the one which we've lost out on in July.
