Football: Colwyn Bay FC set to sign striker

Dec 23 2010

COLWYN Bay player-manager Dave Challinor will sign a striker early in the new year – and he may bring in another forward over the Christmas period.

Keen to maintain second-placed Bay’s bid for promotion from the Evo-Stik Premier Division in 2011, Challinor has already secured Tranmere Rovers teenagers Jack Mackreth and Max Power on loan in the past week, but wants to add more firepower to the squad.

"I’ve agreed a deal in principle with a striker who is away over Christmas and the new year but will be returning on January 8 when everything will be finalised," said the Seagulls boss, who did not wish to name the new recruit at this stage.

"I was after him at the start of the season, he decided to go somewhere else, but now he wants to join Colwyn Bay.

"His club have agreed to let him go, so although experiences I’ve had in the past mean you can never be absolutely certain, it looks like we’ve got ourselves a new striker who I’m confident will please our supporters."

With Bay having key games coming up against Nantwich, Ashton, FC Halifax Town and Kendal Town before the new face comes in, Challinor also has his eye on bringing in a stop-gap front man.

"Had the other striker been available straight away I probably wouldn’t have looked elsewhere, but because we’ve got four important games between now and January 8, I’m looking at signing another forward.

"If the game at Nantwich on Monday looks like going ahead, then I’ll aim to get someone in by the weekend, but otherwise it will probably be next week."

Striker Mackreth, 18, arrives at Llanelian Road initially on a short-term loan whilst 17-year-old midfielder Power joins on work experience.

"I felt now was the right time to do something, obviously we’ve lost Mick McGraa and Gaz Evans due to injury and with illness etc, it’s left us a bit thin on the ground," added Challinor.

"The lads have been fantastic this season but we’ve felt that over the past few weeks we’ve let things slip slightly.

"Colin (Woodthorpe) and I have high standards and expectations and a few new faces will hopefully give everybody a boost and keep people on their toes as it obviously provides competition for places."

Bay’s home game against North Ferriby United on Saturday fell victim to the snow, but the Seagulls are hoping for better luck at Nantwich on Monday.

"We got the Mickleover defeat out of our systems by beating Porthmadog in the Challenge Cup last week, but with all due respect it’s a different level of opposition in our league and the lads will be really up for the Nantwich game," Challinor added.