PLAY-OFF hero Paul Rachubka is heading back to the McAlpine!
While manager Peter Jackson has no plans to re-sign the Charlton goalkeeper because of Ian Gray's recovery from a hand injury, Rachubka will be Town's guest at this Saturday's Blue concert.
It will be the first time Rachubka has linked up with Town's squad and manager Peter Jackson since that glorious day in Cardiff when his shoot-out save from Wayne Corden helped Town defeat Mansfield to clinch promotion.
"I've spoken to Rabs and put him fully in the picture that there is no prospect of us signing him at the moment," said Jackson.
"We have two good keepers on the books already and, because of our budget, there is no way we can carry a third.
"Paul understands exactly where we are coming from and he's looking forward to coming to Saturday's concert as our guest.
"He had to shoot off immediately after the play-off final because he was going on holiday and he didn't get the chance to travel back with us on the coach or go on the open-topped bus ride to the Town Hall.
"I've thanked him for all he did for us last season, because he proved what a very good keeper he is, and I just hope he gets the regular first-team employment that he deserves sooner rather than later."
Jackson revealed there had been talk of Rachubka joining Coca-Cola League I rivals Blackpool for a possible loan, while the McAlpine manager is confident Gray is now well over his problems.
"Ian has done really well in the matches he has played and, psychologically as well as physically, it was important for him to prove he has fully recovered," said the manager.
"He has done a lot of extra work with our keeping coach Lee Martin and with Phil Senior to get back to this stage, but you never really know until you start handling and diving and making saves whether everything is going to be okay.
"That's why we left the Rachubka situation in abeyance until we knew for sure that Ian was going to be okay, and the truth is I'm absolutely delighted with what I've seen of him so far.
"His commanding of the area has been good, he has made some brave saves without even thinking about his left hand and his kicking has been truly top class."
