Gary Johnson has appealed to anxious Bristol City fans to trust him over the shock sale of Nick Carle. Carle yesterday completed his £1 million move to Coca-Cola Championship rivals Crystal Palace, the Australia international signing a four-year contract with the Eagles. Although City boss Johnson has already secured a replacement for the 26-year-old Socceroos star, recruiting Gavin Williams from Ipswich Town last week, City supporters are still coming to terms with the sudden and unexpected departure of a player who featured prominently in the club's play-off campaign at the end of last season. But Johnson has sought to reassure the club's fans by justifying Carle's transfer on both business and football grounds. "It's just one of those decisions a manager sometimes has to make," said Johnson. "He can't say publicly why he's made it, but he has his reasons. In Nick Carle's case, the reasons were business and football. We've made a profit on the deal, but that's not our only reason for selling."
Bristol Evening Post

Scott Murray is determined to prove he still has plenty to offer at Coca-Cola Championship level - and cites Bristol City's play-off tormentor Dean Windass as proof age is not an issue. The 34-year-old winger yesterday signed a new one-year contract at Ashton Gate and insisted he still had what it takes to be a regular member of Gary Johnson's first team. The Scotsman has made 352 league appearances for the Robins in two spells, but due to injuries and the form of others, only 14 of them came during the most recent campaign. But Murray is convinced he can still perform in the second tier of English football and is eager to make his mark when the new season kicks off on August 9. "I have signed for another year and, at my age, I'm absolutely delighted to get another year from the club," said Murray, who had been linked with a move to League One side Swindon Town. "Hopefully, I will manage to push my way into the first team this season."
Bristol Evening Post

Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has completed the signing of Bristol City's Australian midfielder Nick Carle for a fee of around £1m. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Selhurst Park after only joining City from Turkish side Genclerbirligi back in January but he is looking forward to playing for Palace. "I'm very excited to be here," Carle said.
Clubcall

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has tabled bids for three players, two of which are strikers, and hopes to wrap up the signings soon. Johnson has so far only added Gavin Williams to his squad ahead of the new season, but is busy scouring the market for further recruits. He said: "We have three offers out there at the moment and we're negotiating with clubs."
Teamtalk

Former Bristol City and Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Joe Burnell, 27, has snubbed the overtures of Football League clubs to sign for Blue Square Premier club Oxford United after leaving Coca-Cola League One side Northampton Town.
NonLeagueDaily.com