DEFENDER PERRETT PENS NEW ONE-YEAR DEAL

Luton Town defender Russell Perrett has signed a new one-year deal with the Hatters.

Perrett joins Chris Coyne and Steve Robinson in pledging his immediate future to the club, although manager Mike Newell has been disappointed in the last few days to learn that winger Adrian Forbes has joined Third Division Swansea City on a Bosman free transfer.

Perrett joined Luton just a day before the start of the 2001-02 season, becoming then manager Joe Kinnear's seventh summer signing when arriving from Cardiff City.

Perrett, who has also played for Portsmouth, signed a three-year deal after a successful trial with the Hatters that saw him impress in pre-season friendlies.

Perrett had become surplus to requirements at Ninian Park after Cardiff signed Manchester City's Spencer Prior for £700,000 and Bluebirds chairman Sam Hamann, a long-time friend of Joe Kinnear's from their days together at Wimbledon, allowed Perrett to join the Hatters for nothing.

Joe Kinnear said of his seventh summer signing, "He's an old-fashioned centre-half, good in the air and quick."

Perrett opted to join Luton ahead of Second Division Bournemouth, who had made a late bid for his services after they heard of Luton's interest in him. Perrett became the second signing in as many days after Kinnear had snapped up midfielder Paul Hughes on a free transfer from Southampton.

Born in Barton on Sea, Perrett began his career with Portsmouth before being released by the club as a youngster in 1991. He signed for non-league Lymington, before being snapped up by his former club, Portsmouth, in September 1995. He made his debut in November and, despite being sent off in his second full game, he bounced back with a string of good performances and went on to make 9 appearances in the Pompey first-team during his first season at Fratton Park, the 1995-96 campaign.

For a player who had been discarded by Portsmouth in 1991 when still a youngster, it must have given Perrett a warm feeling inside when making the transition from the reserve team to Portsmouth's first-team in 1996-97, following the departure of Guy Butters in October.

Perrett was not going to let the opportunity slip this time and once in the side on a regular basis, and forming a solid partnership with Andy Awford, his all-round performances came on in leaps and bounds. Making 32 league appearances during the campaign, he also scored his first goal for the club at Tranmere in October.

Perrett came back into Portsmouth's starting line-up at the end of August of the 1997-98 season, and he was unable to hold down a regular first-team place. A centre-back with good ability on the ground, having a liking to play the ball to feet, and strong in the air as you would expect from someone of his height, unfortunately, his loss of form coincided with others regaining theirs, and he only really came into contention when injuries and suspensions it the team.

He again struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Fratton Park during the 1998-99 season, and in the 15 league matches that he played in, he was booked three times and sent off once, the manager growing frustrated at his lack of discipline. Regarded more as a fringe player than as a solid regular member of the side, it was obvious that his days with Pompey were numbered and he moved to Cardiff City for £10,000 in July 1999.

The 1999-00 campaign, Perrett's first with Cardiff, was also the Bluebirds first season in Division Two, having been promoted from the Third Division the previous season. A regular in the side at the heart of Cardiff's defence, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Leyton Orient, while his only other goal of the campaign saw him earn the side a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield at the end of March. However, his disciplinary problems were still evident, with Russell booked 6 times and sent off twice during the season as Cardiff were relegated straight back to Division Three.

The 2000-01 season saw Perrett play just twice in the Cardiff first-team, in a defeat at Mansfield and a win at Shrewsbury at the end of April and, as Cardiff won the Third Division Championship, Russell was allowed to leave Ninian Park.

He did, however, have a much happier time at Kenilworth Road as he was a member of a promotion-winning Third Division side for the second season in succession - only this time he was a regular member of the team.

He was a virtual ever-present throughout the season, his dominating presence in the centre of the Luton defence vital to the team's consistent form and good defensive record. Only missing matches when either injured or suspended, Perrett formed an excellent partnership in the centre of the Hatters defence with Chris Coyne, who had joined from Dundee for £50,000 in September 2001.

Perrett made his Luton debut on the opening day of the 2001-02 season as the Hatters began life in Division Three with a 2-0 win at Carlisle, and he was on a winning-side again in the next match, his home debut, as Luton defeated Cheltenham 2-1. He scored his first goal for Luton in a 2-0 victory at Scunthorpe in mid-October, and three matches later he bagged another goal as Swansea were beaten 3-0 at Kenilworth Road. He was to score once more during the remainder of the season, in a 1-1 home draw with Carlisle, and he appeared in 40 League matches for the Hatters during the course of the campaign, as Luton amassed 97 points and finished 2nd in Division Three earning their first promotion in 20 years.

Perrett had another consistent season for the Hatters during the 2002-03 campaign, although he suffered somewhat with various injuries during the course of the season and this restricted his appearances.

However, when he did play, he performed competently once again, and continued to form a strong central defensive partnership with Chris Coyne.

Perrett is a firm favourite with the Luton supporters who admire his ability to not only score the odd goal when coming forward for set pieces, but also his solid defensive attributes, and his willingness to always give 100% for the cause.

Perrett began the season alongside Chris Coyne at the heart of the Hatters defence and manager Joe Kinnear always selected him in the side when he was available, Kinnear quite blatantly believing that Russell and Chris Coyne were his best central defensive pairing.

Perrett made a total of 23 appearances for Luton in all competitions during the season, 20 of those coming in the League, and he scored two goals – both headers – in a 3-0 home win over Chesterfield and in a 2-2 home draw with Notts County. Helping the Hatters to a 9th placed finish in Division Two, Russell was hoping that he could help Luton go one step further during the 2003-04 campaign and gain promotion to Division One under the guidance of new boss Mike Newell.

However, he had a very disappointing 2003-04 season as he spent almost the entire campaign out through injury. The former Cardiff City defender made just 6 appearances (one of those coming as a substitute) – although in those 6 games, he did manage to net two goals!

Having missed the opening of the season through injury, Perrett made his first appearance of the campaign as a substitute in a 0-3 loss at Oldham Athletic in late September 2003. He then earned a starting place in the side for the next 5 matches, during which he netted two goals (both headers from corners) in a 3-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers in front of the Sky Television cameras and in a 3-1 home win over Wycombe Wanderers.

However, he picked up an injury in a 3-6 defeat at AFC Bournemouth in late October 2003, and he was forced to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines.

After enduring a forgettable 2003-04 season, Perrett will be hoping to return to full fitness for the 2004-05 season and show manager Mike Newell exactly what he is capable of.
Story date: Sunday, June 6, 2004