Post by andy on Jul 4, 2007 13:26:21 GMT
THEY say a week in football is a long time and the last seven days was long enough for Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law to bring in his seventh new face but also lose two more of last season’s squad.
The Reds agreed an undisclosed four figure deal with UniBond League Premier Division neighbours Matlock Town on Monday for highly rated left sided midfielder Kris Bowler.
The 23-year-old has joined on a two year contract and took part in Tuesday night’s training session with the Reds.
Law was delighted to have captured the former Rotherham United YTS and reserve team player who has also spent time at Wakefield & Emley before joining the Gladiators where he has impressed with a string of good displays.
Law said: ”He is a good sort. He can go past people and deliver, but when he loses it he works back and doesn’t shirk a tackle. He is a tough lad.
“He is a player I have seen a lot of and he has the right credentials. I am delighted we have got him on board.”
On the outgoing side, last season’s top scorer Mark Rawle joined Conference North rivals Kettering Town earlier in the week.
That was followed by Ryan Clarke incredibly changing his mind yet again despite last week’s u-turn and apparent return to the Impact Arena.
Clarke has finally made his mind up and joined his long time admirers Worcester City.
The Worcestershire club are understood to now be prepared to take the matter to an FA Tribunal who will decide how much of a compensation fee City will have to pay Alfreton Town for his services.
Neither club has a right of appeal with whatever fee the tribunal panel announces and City could end up paying more than the £5000 they offered for Ryan’s services last season.
The versatile Clarke missed just one game in two full seasons with the Reds, playing 98 times out of 99 and scoring nine times.
Nicky Law wasn’t too surprised that the player had changed his mind again.
He commented:”Deep down I knew he only made the u-turn last week because of Worcester not pursuing him.
“To be fair, Ryan thinks he is bigger and better than Alfreton. That is his decision and his prerogative. I have been in this game a long while and you get a feel for players. I know talking to him that he feels Alfreton is below him.
“At the end of the day Ryan chose to leave. I think he only came back on the rebound and he was living in hope that Worcester would renew their interest which they have obviously done.
“It he doesn’t want to be here he doesn’t want to be here. The club has done all they can to keep him but there is only so much you can do.
“Worcester knew what the asking price for the lad was so they can’tbe that concerned that it might be more than they were willing to pay.”
On Rawle, Law added: “He was looking good in training, fit and strong. We were discussing things for this season but he asked for substantially more than he was getting last year.
“It was something we were considering but in the meantime he has signed for Kettering.
“We will now just get on with things and now pursue some of our other targets.
“We certainly aren’t panicking. We will concentrate on getting a good work ethic and get the players playing for each other.”
Chairman Wayne Bradley explained that the Reds had lost out financially.
He said: "We would have loved to retain him and seen him in an Alfreton shirt but again finances have hugely dictated in the first instance that the club. We can't compete with the deal Kettering have offered him.
"It is a pecking order. The more established boys are going to get their man and we would be foolish to even attempt to be in any sort of bidding war. We just aren't in that league.
The Reds agreed an undisclosed four figure deal with UniBond League Premier Division neighbours Matlock Town on Monday for highly rated left sided midfielder Kris Bowler.
The 23-year-old has joined on a two year contract and took part in Tuesday night’s training session with the Reds.
Law was delighted to have captured the former Rotherham United YTS and reserve team player who has also spent time at Wakefield & Emley before joining the Gladiators where he has impressed with a string of good displays.
Law said: ”He is a good sort. He can go past people and deliver, but when he loses it he works back and doesn’t shirk a tackle. He is a tough lad.
“He is a player I have seen a lot of and he has the right credentials. I am delighted we have got him on board.”
On the outgoing side, last season’s top scorer Mark Rawle joined Conference North rivals Kettering Town earlier in the week.
That was followed by Ryan Clarke incredibly changing his mind yet again despite last week’s u-turn and apparent return to the Impact Arena.
Clarke has finally made his mind up and joined his long time admirers Worcester City.
The Worcestershire club are understood to now be prepared to take the matter to an FA Tribunal who will decide how much of a compensation fee City will have to pay Alfreton Town for his services.
Neither club has a right of appeal with whatever fee the tribunal panel announces and City could end up paying more than the £5000 they offered for Ryan’s services last season.
The versatile Clarke missed just one game in two full seasons with the Reds, playing 98 times out of 99 and scoring nine times.
Nicky Law wasn’t too surprised that the player had changed his mind again.
He commented:”Deep down I knew he only made the u-turn last week because of Worcester not pursuing him.
“To be fair, Ryan thinks he is bigger and better than Alfreton. That is his decision and his prerogative. I have been in this game a long while and you get a feel for players. I know talking to him that he feels Alfreton is below him.
“At the end of the day Ryan chose to leave. I think he only came back on the rebound and he was living in hope that Worcester would renew their interest which they have obviously done.
“It he doesn’t want to be here he doesn’t want to be here. The club has done all they can to keep him but there is only so much you can do.
“Worcester knew what the asking price for the lad was so they can’tbe that concerned that it might be more than they were willing to pay.”
On Rawle, Law added: “He was looking good in training, fit and strong. We were discussing things for this season but he asked for substantially more than he was getting last year.
“It was something we were considering but in the meantime he has signed for Kettering.
“We will now just get on with things and now pursue some of our other targets.
“We certainly aren’t panicking. We will concentrate on getting a good work ethic and get the players playing for each other.”
Chairman Wayne Bradley explained that the Reds had lost out financially.
He said: "We would have loved to retain him and seen him in an Alfreton shirt but again finances have hugely dictated in the first instance that the club. We can't compete with the deal Kettering have offered him.
"It is a pecking order. The more established boys are going to get their man and we would be foolish to even attempt to be in any sort of bidding war. We just aren't in that league.
