There is absolutely no pressure on my fantastic manager - this club wants promotion as badly as anybody else, says Glebe chairman Rocky McMillan, who announces Southampton sign centre-back Nico Lawrence on a free transfer

GLEBE chairman Rocky McMillan has enticed striker Malachi Hudson to Foxbury Avenue to maintain the club’s promotion bid.

Chatham Town are at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having banked 65 points from 25 games. Sheppey United are in second-place with 62 points from 24 games, while Glebe remain third with 55 points from 23 games.

The Chislehurst-based club have brought the former Sheppey United striker to Glebe, having scored eight goals for Ernie Batten’s side before he left Holm Park due to "personal reasons" on 18 January.

Hudson is cup-tied for tomorrow’s Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final against his old club, when the two sides meet at Foxbury Avenue for the chance to meet Larkfield & New Hythe or Hollands & Blair in the showpiece final in Maidstone on Sunday 10 April 2022.

Sheppey United are  the holders, having beaten Isthmian League South East Division side Corinthian 3-1 in the much-delayed 2019-20 Final, which was played in Chatham on 1 February 2022 due to the coronavirus health pandemic.

“What a coup in getting Malachi Hudson to Glebe. He is an unbelievable talent,” said McMillan.

“The manager (Harry Hudson) has been told 15 matches to go, if you think a position needs strengthening, get the very best.

“There is absolutely no pressure on my fantastic manager.  This club wants promotion as badly as anybody else.

“For eight years and we’re trying to get into Step Four.  Other clubs have been around 125 years and trying to do the same.   This club is going places, there’s no doubt about that.

“I want to bring the most exciting players in south-east England to Glebe.  They will have the time of their lives.

“The next level (Isthmian League South East) holds no fears.  The Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division has three outstanding teams this season and each will finish in the top half of Step Four without doubt.

“We need to take a step at a time but Step Four is not utopia for my club.

“The Southern Counties East Football League is a powerhouse.   My good friends at Stansfeld playing Step Six have beaten four top teams in the Combined Counties League Premier, the other leagues have one or two decent clubs.

“The great thing about Glebe is I even allow the best of our talent to jump nine divisions to Premier League clubs.

“I’ve been under the weather for six months with long Covid.  Indeed this week I’m in a warmer climate. When I beat this virus and get back to full strength, we’ll continue with renewed vigour to reach even greater heights.”

Meanwhile, Premier League club Southampton have today signed Glebe centre-back Nico Lawrence, 19, on a free transfer and has signed a contract at Saint Mary's Stadium until June 2023.

“His rise has been simply meteoric, starting in our under 23s at the start of the season and three months in the first-team then signing for a Premier League club,” added McMillan.

“It was a free transfer, as we would never dream of holding any players back. I don’t think we were slow with a contract.  He just blossomed overnight.

“I’m in discussions with Southampton to make a donation to Glebe, as staff and management nurtured him and Glebe gave him the platform to perform.

“However, at the end of the day it’s a Roy of the Rovers story and we’re just thrilled at the club.”

Glebe manager Harry Hudson added: "Really happy that Glebe was able to give Nico the platform to play senior football and come up agaisnt a different type of challenge.

"He's developed and adapted really, really quickly, I'm proud of him.

"Now he's making the step into a catergory one Academy and if he carries on the development he's had then I have no reason not to think he won'to go all the way.

"It's fantastic that Glebe can have a strong season on the pitch while also providing a platform for players into a pro club."

Southampton's Academy Director Matt Hale told the club website: "Nico has had a really interesting journey.  He has had experience of academy football having been at Fulham and Crystal Palace until he was 14.  Then moving into an independent academy setting and non-league football.

"He has had varied and effective experience where he has had exposure to senior football at such a young age.  This is highlighted in his maturity when he plays and thorough his recent trial with us we have been impressed with his raw potential which we will now harness further through a full-time training programme.

"Nico's personality fits well with our culture within the Academy and we are excited about what the future might hold for him."

Stansfeld travel to play Southall in The FA Vase Last Sixteen tomorrow, while Tunbridge Wells travel to play a Hamworthy United side that knocked 10-man Glebe out in the last round, winning 3-2.

Hamworthy United are unbeaten at their County Ground since losing 2-0 at home to Downtown in the Bournemouth Senior Cup back on the 21 March 2020, 34 home games ago.

Glebe striker, Jamie Philpot, has scored 41 goals in all competitions this season, three behind his rival at Chatham Town, Dan Bradshaw.