Ashford Town face battle to land £10,000 striker

HASTINGS UNITED insist a bid from Ashford Town for their highly-rated striker Sam Adams is “derisory,” writes Stephen McCartney.

The east Sussex club, who play one division higher than the Kent club, have revealed on their official website that Ashford have placed a bid of £600 for the 22-year-old striker, who has scored 45 goals in 137 appearances.

Adams, who joined Hastings United in June 2005 from Sussex County League side Rye & Iden United (now called Rye United) finished the club’s highest goalscorer in a struggling team in the Ryman Premier League last term.

Hastings United have issued a statement - on it’s website www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk - concerning Adams and insist the striker is staying put.

It read: “After several weeks supposedly spent awaiting a tribunal decision on Sam Adams’ proposed transfer to Ashford Town, the club was surprised to receive what is considered to be an utterly derisory £600 bid from the Kent side for a player whom United value much more highly.

“Having summarily rejected the offer, the club is delighted to confirm that Sam is now committed to staying at the Pilot Field for the new season, where he remains on contract for a further year.”




But Ashford Town joint-owner Mr Don Crosbie, speaking on www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk from the Canary Islands, insists the Homelands club haven’t given up hope of Adams signing for Steve Lovell’s side.

He said: “Sam Adams has not signed for Hastings, they had an option on his contract to extend for an extra season, which he is not happy with as they want £10,000 for his release.”

Lovell revealed he was keen on signing a new striker, when speaking at last week’s press conference at The Homelands, but was quoted a £10,000 transfer fee.

But Mr Crosbie is confident Lovell, who managed Hastings before returning to Sittingbourne, will sign the players that will clinch promotion from Ryman League Division One South at the end of this season.

“Our pre-season training has begun and Steve has invited quite a few players for pre-season training, including back-up goalkeeper, central midfielders, strikers and various utility players,” said Mr Crosbie.

“It is not late in the day for us as these invites were established many weeks ago and Steve is well in control of what signings are required.

“He is more than happy that our already established squad will be added to with the right quality of standard.”

Transfer talk is all very hush-hush at this time of the year as managers don’t want to inform other clubs of their targets.

“The big problem facing Steve is that there are quite a number of players who want to sign for Ashford Town but they do not want their existing club to know just in case we do not take them on,” explained Mr Crosbie.

“Speculation or confirmation normally comes from the other clubs first because out of respect the player must inform his existing club that he is not going to re-sign and normally tells his old manager where he is going.

“Hence our (supporters) read the news first elsewhere because we show respect for the club losing their players.

“I will post a list of all players that have signed contracts for next season, albeit I believe you know this already but hopefully when Steve sees how the new lads fit in to our set-up via our pre-season training sessions he will announce who he wants to sign.”

Visit club websites:  www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk & www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk