Ex-QPR Kevin McLeod Links Up With Jamie Cureton at Colchester

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BBC - McLeod completes Colchester move

Colchester United have signed wide midfielder Kevin McLeod from League One side Swansea City.
McLeod had been told he could leave Swansea on a free transfer despite having two years left on his contract.

Swansea accepted Championship side Colchester's offer to take over McLeod's contract, although the 25-year-old did have other suitors.

U's boss Geraint Williams is thought to be keen to strengthen further before the transfer window shuts on Thursday.

McLeod was omitted from Swansea's squad for last Saturday's game after Colchester registered their interest.

He almost left Swansea last season after being placed on the transfer list for "not showing enough application".

But he was given the chance to resurrect his career in April and overcame a broken ankle to play a part in the club's play-off final defeat.

Swansea then announced in June that McLeod had been taken off the transfer list, but manager Kenny Jackett recently told the winger his opportunities would be limited this season.

BBC

Colchester Official Site
Kevin McLeod - The Story So Far

KEVIN MCLEOD: The third signing of Geraint Williams' reign

Another Welsh club has been raided in Geraint Williams' pursuit of players to add to the squad and we bring you the lowdown on Kevin McLeod.

The twenty-five year old began his professional career at Everton and made his debut just after his twentieth birthday when he came on as a second half substitute in the 3-0 defeat at home to Ipswich.

He went on to make seven appearances for the Toffees, five of which came as a substitute in the Premier League. His only start for the Premiership outfit came in a League Cup tie against Crystal Palace, where Kevin played alongside Paul Gascoigne in midfield.

After two loan spells at Loftus Road, which yielded two goals from eight league starts, the Liverpoool born player moved to QPR on a permanent basis for a quarter of a million pounds in August 2003.

Kevin then spent eighteen months in West London, scoring a further six times for Rangers before another move saw him on his way to Swansea City in February 2005.

It was a great start to his career with the Swans as he made eleven appearances between then and the end of the season that helped his new club to promotion into League One.

His first full season in South Wales saw Kevin get off to a flying start with seven goals in the first six matches, including a hat trick in the 7-1 drubbing of Bristol City at the Liberty Stadium.

The winger recovered from a mid season broken ankle to help the Swans into the Play-offs last season but they fell at the final hurdle and now manager Kenny Jackett has allowed Kevin to move to Layer Road for Championship football.

Colchester


Colchester Official Site
George Floating On McLeod

Geraint Williams has added some attacking flair to his squad as former Evertonian, Kevin McLeod joins the U's from League One Swansea City, subject to the transfer getting Football League and FA approval.

McLeod signed for Williams and the U's on Wednesday afternoon and joins Chris Barker, who signed on loan, in returning to England from over the Welsh border.

This signing adds another body to the U's squad and leaves manager Geraint just over twenty-four hours to bring in any other players he feels are required for the Championship challenge.

The U's boss has made no secret of the fact that he wants to bring in players and has explained on many occasions that he and his staff are pulling out all the stops as the transfer window deadline approaches.

Since Williams took over as the new boss, he has added McLeod, Barker and young Lawrie Wilson but feels there is still room to add to his squad, even after the impressive 4-3 victory over Derby County on Saturday.

McLeod will train with his new team mates for the first time on Thursday afternoon and will have plenty of time to get to know his new teammates before the U's next game, the away fixture at Burnley on Saturday 9th September.
Colchester

Swansea Official Site - Mcleod Leaves the Swans
Swansea City winger Kevin McLeod has completed his free transfer to Championship new-boys Colchester United.
McLeod completed talks with the U's this afternoon and has signed subject to the transfer getting Football League, FA and FAW approval.
He joined the Swans for an undisclosed fee in February 2005 from QPR, but suffered a bad case of laryngitis which prevented him making an early impact.
The former Everton wide-man grabbed a hat-trick at the start of last season against Bristol City, but failed to cement a regular place in the side before suffering a broken ankle towards the end of the season.
He was placed on the transfer list back in March following a breach of club discipline and ''not showing enough application'', but Swans boss Kenny Jackett gave him a reprieve and took him off the list in June.
But the 25-year-old failed to impress early on this season and has been allowed to leave the Liberty Stadium with nearly two years left on his contract.
The moves comes 24-hours before tomorrow's transfer deadline.

Swansea