‘Give me a last chance’
12th June 2006http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~bbrown1/roadrunner/roadrunnersite_files/image001.gifFORMER Reading midfielder Michael Meaker is asking Dennis Wise to give him a ‘last chance’ as he looks to resurrect his football league career after a five-year absence.
Meaker, 34, scored 44 goals for Hellenic League Division One East side Hounslow Borough last season and had been asked by previous Town boss Iffy Onuora to come pre-season training ahead of the 2006/07 campaign.
Onuora’s dismissal and Wise’s subsequent appointment has thrown the move into doubt but, with his agent in discussion with the new Town boss, Meaker is hopeful he will get his chance to prove he can still do a job in League Two.
Between 1990 and 2001, Meaker made 340 professional appearances including Premiership appearances with QPR, a £550,000 move to Reading in 1995, and a six-game loan-spell at the County Ground back in March 2000.
Since snapping his clavical in his shoulder for Plymouth Argyle in 2001 he has drifted into non-league football, while trying to pursue a career as a consultant for football agents, but believes he is ready for a return to league football.
He said: “I have had a few years out in non-league football but I have scored over 100 goals in a few years and really want to go for it in professional football again.
“I spoke to Iffy and Alan Reeves at the end of last season and they thought I would be able to do a job with Town.
“Obviously I am not totally sure about the situation now Dennis Wise has come in but hopefully I am still going to get my chance in pre-season.
“I have been working hard to get extra, extra sharp and fit and really believe I have got a couple of seasons in the football league left in me.”
The former Wales under 21 international reveals a number of Conference League sides have been clamouring for his signature this summer but for him a return to Swindon would be the dream move.
He said: “I had a great time when I was here last time.
“The place is a great place to be, the fans are fantastic and obviously Dennis Wise was a great player and will make a great manager.
“I am good friends with Jamie Cureton and he was looking forward to me coming here.
“He thought I would do a job here and I am disappointed he has now moved to Colchester.
“All I am asking is for a chance in pre-season to show what I am capable of. I have had four offers from Conference sides but I really believe I can still perform in the football league.”
Meanwhile chief executive Mark Devlin has distanced Town from rumoured interest in Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kelvin Jack and Millwall striker Carl Asaba.
