Ankaragucu sign Alihan Kubalas!

Ankaragucu today signed 24 year old Istanbulspor defender Alihan Kubalas. The club continue to strengthen and look to be building a team capable of challenging for the title this season. Kubalas has also had previous spells with Fatih Karagumruk, Altay, Sivasspor and Fenerbahce.

He can play anywhere across the back with central defence and left back being his favoured position, we would like to welcome Alihan to the club and all the best in the future.

Ankaragucu rebuilding continues!

Ankaragucu have completed the signing of 2 more new players in Emre Sahin from Bucaspor and Tarsus Goalkeeper Emre Kouyuncu. Emre was highly regarded at Bucaspor and the forwards signing has been met with approval from the Ankaragucu fans.

The club continues to bring in new players even though the club havent officialy lifted the transfer ban. Its believed that the club will officially become Ankaragucu AS in the coming weeks with Melih Gokcek heavily involved with the club again.

In other news, Ankaragucu have been invited back to the TSYD Ankara cup for the first time since they were relegated from the Super Lig. They will be joined by Etimesgut, Bugsas and Hacetepe in the 4 team tournament. Genclerbirligi will not play in this seasons cup for unknown reasons.

Ankaragucu transfer news!

Busy couple of days for Ankaragucu as 8 players head for the exit door with 4 new players having arrived yesterday (see post further down). It's still unclear whether the transfer ban has been lifted after the arrival of Erhan Senturk, Dogan Ates, Ferhat Culcoglu and Cenk Kaplan, we are awaiting further information from the club.

Reports confirmed today that following 8 players have been released by the club. I don't think many will be sad or surprised to see any of them go but we would in particular like to wish Gurkan, Volkan and Teoman all the best in their future.

Teoman Erkan
Murat Sozgelmez
Volkan Geyik
Gurkan Alver
Ferhat Odobasi
Sedat Bayrak
Emrah Bozturk
Salih Sefercik

Ankaragucu sign 4 new players!

Pre season began today for new Ankaragucu and their new manager Ismet Tasdemkr as the team reported back to Bestepe training facility. Their were also 4 new faces who reported for training with them all having signed contracts last night according to various reports.

Cenk Kaplan is a 24 year old left back who can also play centre back, he has signed from Kocaeli Birlikspor where he played under Ismet Tasdemir last season. The left back position has been a problem area for Ankaragucu of late with both Mehmet Tasci and Onur Atasayer failing to impress. Onur looks more promising further forward.

Ferhat Culcoglu is a defensive midfielder who has signed from Bucaspor. The 28 year old has also played with Goztepe and Istanbul BB and will come in as a replacement for Salih Sefercik who has left the club to sign for Giresesunspor.

Dogan Ates is a 27 year old forward who can play centrally or outside and has signed from Tuzlaspor. He has spent most of his career in the lower leagues and will be a welcome addition to the team.

The most impressive signing of the quartet is 27 year old winger and former Galatasaray player Erhan Senturk. He joins from Kocaeli Birlikspor and will also be well known to Ismet Tasdemir.

It's unknown yet what the latest is with the current transfer ban but it looks like the club have come to some sort of agreement having signed the above 4 players. The quality of player this season is much better than last season where the club brought in old players past their sell by date.

In other news Ferhat Odobasi has quit the club after 1 season as the clubs first choice keeper. After a promising start to his Ankaragucu career he like the rest of his team mates was very disappointing last season.

Ankaragucu will train in Ankara until Friday where they leave for training camp in Erzerum. We will keep you updated will all the latest developments.

Next Season...

starts on August 19 for Gençlerbirliği

and on September 3 for Ankaragücü.

Ankaragucu confirm Ismet Tasdemir as Manager!

Ankaragucu today confirmed former player Ismet Tasdemir as new manager which has been given the vote of approval by the Ankaragucu fans. He will be joined by Ramazan Tunc who will be the clubs new sporting director and another former player Niyazi Guney who has been confirmed as club scout.

Tasdemir player 110 games for the club over 3 different spells scoring 9 goals and was described as a touch tackling midfielder by Jim who remembers him fondly. Reports also claim that he is hoping to make former Ankaragucu captain Hurriyet Gucer his first signing for the club. That will all depend on weather the management team can lift the transfer ban???? Hmmmm we've been here before.

No one can stop us from coming fifth

Gencler's management met with the press this week and revealed that Ilhan Cavcav has given instructions "to build a team that can compete for the top five next season and to carry out transfers accordingly." Source.

Although European places usually go to the top four teams, Galatasaray's complex ban could conceivably mean the fifth place team would get a Europa League qualifying berth after next season. Or maybe they just like the sound of fifth.

In other news, Gencler received no red cards last season and were by far the nicest, most polite team in Turkey.