A TOTAL of 22 footballers have changed clubs in Jersey Football’s new ‘June transfer window’, the majority joining four clubs.

Division II St John have captured seven new players as they bid, under their new club management team, to lift themselves off the bottom of Coca-Cola Combination Division II.

Busiest club in Division I have been last season’s Division II champions, the Portuguese Club of Jersey.

José Costa and Helio De Freitas have returned after a spell at Jersey Wanderers while Shaun Irving has rejoined after several seasons at St Paul’s.

Former Muratti striker John Rutter has also signed for Portuguese for the second time in his career together with Richard Russell, a prolific marksman as a junior.

Both the above clubs will be under new management teams in the forthcoming season, Kevin Ganly and Andy Wood will be in charge at St John while former Island and Portuguese manager Kevin MacCarthy is part of a six-man team leading Portuguese back in the top flight.

Portuguese Club vice-president and former Jersey Muratti captain Nelio De Freitas said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Kevin back, he led us to second place in the division the first time he was in charge.

‘He has been a member of our club for a long time and he knows most of the players through that.

Kevin will lead a group of six running football affairs along with myself, Sergio Carolo, Maurice De Andrade, Jamie De Castro and Robbie Fernandes – Robbie has also signed to play again and help with training as well.’ St Paul’s have also been busy recruiting new faces, up to the beginning of this week, they include Nathan Taylor, Mark Lucas and Island under-21 cap Sam Dewhurst from First Tower together with U18 Muratti cap Jamie Cullen from Jersey Wanderers.

Players have until the end of this week to move clubs if they wish before the window closes again.