BETSY SET FOR SWINDON

Gary Johnson has tonight given the all clear for Kevin Betsy to talk over a possible move to League One Swindon Town.

Swindon boss Maurice Malpas tonight confirmed the winger was keen for the move and Betsy was at the County Ground tonight watching Swindon in their final pre-season match against Plymouth.

Malpas told swindontownfc.co.uk: "That deal is basically down to him and Bristol City. We have tried to accommodate him as best we can. He wants to come here, as we have seen by his presence here tonight."

However, Gary Johnson has revealed that Swindon aren't the only club interested and both Brentford and Millwall have been linked with the journeyman over the summer.

Betsy signed for £150,000 from Wycombe two January's back and played a key role in the second half of the 2006/07 season ensuring City's promotion from League One - however since being in the Championship he found himself third in line for the right wing spot, meaning two loan spells at Yeovil and Walsall.

KNEE INJURY MAY KEEP ELLIOTT OUT OF OPENER

Marvin Elliott looks set to miss the season opener at Bloomfield Road due to knee problem.

The midfielder has suffered with a fractured toe throughout pre-season and has now received a new setback ahead of the first match of the season against Blackpool.

Manager Gary Johnson today confirmed that the former Millwall man will be sent for a scan to ensure that there is nothing too serious with the knee.

Elliott joins Scott Murray (broken wrist) and Jordan Walker (leg) on the injury table who have both been ruled out of Saturday's showdown already.

JOHNSON: FANS GET THE NUMBER 12 SHIRT

City boss Gary Johnson has 'promoted' the fans from number 31 to number 12 due to their services to the club.

Johnson told how he felt that it was only right that the fans got their new number after being a positive influence on the club over the past two years.

Johnson told bcfc.co.uk: "They've had two fantastic seasons with a promotion and a Wembley final, and they've been the number 31 both times. It's only right they are promoted for their services to the club.

"Now they really are the twelfth man for us and hopefully we can give them another season to remember."

NICKY'S DREAM DEBUT

Bristol City 4 - 0 Royal Antwerp

Nicky Maynard began his Bristol City career in superb fashion as he bagged a hat-trick in a 30-minute period.

Lee Trundle bagged a late penalty to add to the three from Maynard which closed Bristol City's pre-season campaign.

In a game that Bristol City controlled throughout, Dele Adebola had the opening chances as he headed just wide from a Lee Johnson free-kick and was then involved in a goal line scramble which was finally cleared by the Antwerp defence.

But moments later the opener arrived after some neat play from Adebola allowed McIndoe to get behind the Antwerp defence and his cute chip was placed home by the outstretching Maynard.

Dele Adebola once again went close with a quick fire shot at the Antwerp stopper and soon after Gavin Williams' free-kick drifted just wide. However, City doubled their lead late into the first half as Nick Maynard stormed onto Cole Skuse's gifted pass giving the £2.25million man a one-one opportunity - which was duly converted.

Then just two minutes after half-time Ivan Sproule pulled back a cross into the area which found it's way to Maynard to complete his hat-trick. By this point the 1,000 strong army of Belgians were quiet and City relaxed leading to a couple of chances for the visitors but nothing clear.

The two strikers were replaced by Brooker and Trundle, and it would be Trundle who would close the scoring as he cooly hit home his last minute penalty after he was brought down in the box.

City: Basso; Orr (Riberio 79), Carey, McCombe (Fontaine 67), McAllister; Williams (Sproule 46), Johnson (Noble 72), Skuse (B.Wilson 72), McIndoe (Myrie-Williams 79); Maynard (Brooker 61), Adebola (Trundle 61).

FANTASY FOOTBALL - BRISTOL CITY STYLE

The BCFC Times has revealed it's very own Fantasy Football game - but with a twist.

The game is in the style of the popular Dream Team game from The Sun but instead of picking eleven Premiership players you pick a seven man squad of Bristol City players, and then choose your starting five.

The game can be found at www.bcfctimesfantasy.blogspot.com.

BRISTOL CITY ANNOUNCE SQUAD NUMBERS

Bristol City have this evening announced who will be wearing what numbers for the forthcoming campaign, and those players will tonight wear their numbers against Royal Antwerp.

The list is as follows:

1. Adriano Basso
2. Bradley Orr
3. Jamie McAllister
4. Liam Fontaine
5. Jamie McCombe
6. Louis Carey
7. Scott Murray
8. David Noble
9. Steve Brooker
10. Nicky Maynard
11. Michael McIndoe

12. The Fans
14. Cole Skuse
15. Dele Adebola
17. Ivan Sproule
18. Brian Wilson
19. Jennison Myrie-Williams
20. Gavin Williams
21. Frankie Artus
22. Chris Weale
23. Lee Trundle
24. Christian Ribeiro
25. Marvin Elliott
26. James Wilson
27. Jordan Walker
28. Kevin Betsy
30. Tristan Plummer
32. Stephen Henderson
33. Lee Johnson

MAYNARD'S OURS!!!

Bristol City today clinched the signing of Crewe Alexandra's young striker Nicky Maynard for a record breaking fee of £2.25million.

The 21-year old has put pen to paper on a 4-year deal after he today passed a medical and agreed terms. City had made a bid of more than £1.5million for the Crewe Alexandra graduate earlier in the summer but the Railwaymen declined City's bid.

However after the Mifsud fiasco broke down City were quick to get Maynard in with a deal being agreed just last night. The forward has been Crewe's top scorer for the past two season's grabbing 35 goals in 57 matches - an impressive tally in any league.

The Windsor-born speed demon becomes City's record ever signing, smashing past Ade Akinbiyi's arrival by just under £1million, but he insists it won't affect him, Maynard told bcfc.co.uk:"To be honest I don't feel that sort of pressure, I just like going out there and enjoying my football.

"i want to score as many goals as I can and help Bristol City into the Premier League. Everyone is confident the team can go one step further and hopefully I'll be able to help that.

"I'm so excited. It's a good move for me to keep progressing in my career. This seem like the perfect place for me."

Nicky Maynard will make his first appearance in the City shirt tomorrow night at home to Royal Antwerp in City's final pre-season match.