Money not an issue for striker Cass

Monday 08th June 2009

CHATHAM TOWN boss Alex O’Brien has made his first summer signing – by enticing Brendon Cass back to his home-town club, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Medway outfit are under new management this season with O’Brien and player-assistant Lew Watts in charge.

And their first ever signing doesn’t come any bigger than striker Cass, who scores goals for fun.

The striker moved from Chatham to Dartford towards the end of the 2005-06 season, where he had been the Medway club’s leading scorer.

Cass became Darts’ top-scorer for two seasons and won the Ryman League Division One South golden boot award for the 2006-07 campaign.

And O’Brien, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk at lunchtime, knows he has landed one of Kent football’s prolific marksmen.

“On paper he’s a fantastic goalscorer and that’s exactly what he does – he just scores goals,” he said.

“He wasn’t happy with things that happened last year (at Dartford), I think it dented his confidence a little bit.

“Chatham, obviously, it a very local club to him and he knows the ins and outs of Chatham and he’s more than happy to play for me and Lew having previously played with us.”

When asked about the striker’s contract terms, O’Brien revealed Cass, who was released by Dartford last month, is more than happy to play for his home-town club again.

He said: “We met him last week, we had a chat and he said all the right things and he was more than happy with what we had to say.

“He just confirmed late last night that he wants to give it a right good go at Chatham Town next year.

“The thing is we actually haven’t spoken about contracts, which is the beauty of it. We gave him a figure and said to him that’s all we can afford.

“He wanted to know a little bit more in depth where the club was going and this, that and another. We were expecting him to as for a deal, but he never did.

“We’re going to sit him down and tell him pre-season how he gets on, if he’s looking sharp, we may have to offer him a deal, but at the minute we’ll look to get him fit and sharp and scoring goals.”

O’Brien believes Chatham Town will have one of the most prolific strike force in Ryman League Division One South next season – and insists the club will not be making up the numbers.

“I was always impressed with Cass, just for the fact that he scores goals,” he said.

“It’s like good goalkeeper’s or good left-back’s, they’re very rare. He’s someone in the box, as soon as the balls in you’re confident that he will put them away.

“I think him and Lee Barnett, I think we’ve got two names on paper, so far, who will get us a lot of goals.

“There’s a lot of work to be done with him, mentally and fitness wise, but they know that and they’re more than happy to knuckle down in pre-season and start delivering the goods.”

O’Brien, who is waiting for potential targets to return from their holidays before adding to his squad, added, “There’s not going to be lots of signings or a different squad because we’re more than happy with the boys who finished there last year.”

But today’s news will surely elevate the club towards the higher reaches of the division next season.

And O’Brien agreed, saying, “I don’t see the point of entering any competition, any league, any game or any training game if you don’t want to win it.

“We’re not there to make numbers up or to be part of the league. We’re going to give it a good go and a good fight and that’s what teams can expect from us and that’s what we’ll deliver.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net