Fresh start is brill for Dean

NEW goalkeeper Dean Brill has already seen off Greg Fleming, his main rival to be Athletic’s No 1.

Fleming, who has joined Scottish League outfit Dunfermline on a season-long loan, had been expected to challenge Brill for the ’keeper’s jersey.

The 23-year-old Brill, who had been a Luton player since the age of 10, admitted he was ready for a new challenge.

He said: “I had been there a long time, but it came to a point in my career that I needed a change.

“I wouldn’t say I needed to kick-start my career, but I was looking for a fresh challenge. This move will hopefully do me the world of good and this is the place to be.”

Brill says goalkeepers have a special understanding as they battle for only one position in the team.

He said: “While we are rivals, it is a friendly rivalry.

“The ’keepers help each other in training and, whoever the manager chooses to be No 1, I am sure the others will be supportive.

“It is strange that your biggest rivals can also be your greatest friends, because you work with them day in, day out.”

Brill believes that training with goalkeeping coach Andy Collett will make him an even better player.

He is striving to get back to the level he once played when Luton were in the second tier of English football.

He worked alongside former Chelsea and Russia ’keeper Dmitri Kharine at Kenilworth Road in the early part of his career.

Brill is looking forward to some stability after experiencing a turbulent two years, both on and off the field with the Hatters.

The club were punished heavily for financial irregularities, which saw them tumble from the Coca-Cola Championship to Blue Square Premier in three seasons.

Brill, who at one stage linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs, believes he has emerged a stronger character from his time at Luton.

He said that being a free agent was a completely new experience to him.

Brill went on: “It was the first time I had been out of contract and I didn’t know what to expect.

“I received the call from Oldham to see whether I was interested and the deal was effectively done in a day.

“I had interest from other clubs, but once I spoke to the manager and goalkeeping coach I was sold.

“I was sad to leave Luton as they did a lot for me and I owe them a lot. I loved my time at the club and still have some brilliant friends there.”

Brill reckons that had the club not been punished for financial irregularities — they started last season on minus 30 points — there is no way they would have lost their Football League status.

He said: “The squads that were put together for the last two seasons were good ones and we had some good players.

“It was strange on that front to end up where we did due to events off the field.

“With those 30 points we would have been mid-table but, personally, I believe we would have been even higher because mentally it was really tough to start the season.

“We were always playing catch-up but, had we begun on an even keel, we would have been in a position to push on.”

Brill is excited by the prospect of playing the likes of Norwich City, Southampton, Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, MK Dons and Millwall.

He said: “It is a very tough division and there are going to be some massive matches.

“You see teams filtering down from the Premier League and I don’t think there is a bad side in our division.

“It will be a tough season, but the manager is positive and so am I.”