WARD OPTS OUT

After much speculation, Leek Town central defender Nick Ward has jumped ship to sign for local rivals Kidsgrove Athletic.

Since returning from holiday recently, Ward, 24, has been training at the Seddon Stadium as Blues’ boss Wayne Johnson monitored the situation.

Grove are believed to have made Ward a substantial offer, one that Johnson was not prepared to match.

The Blues’ boss is sorry the see the versatile player go but was in no mood to breach his policy regarding players’ wages.

Johnson believes that following Ward’s departure there will be continued stability in the dressing room and he is now actively seeking a replacement for his former skipper.

Ward joined Leek in January 2008 after previous spells with Stone Dominoes and Rocester. He went on to skipper the side but his style of play often brought him into conflict with referees leaving his time at Harrison Park littered with suspensions.

COPE BOOST FOR BLUES

Leek Town manager Wayne Johnson’s plans for the new season were given a boost last week with the news that leading scorer Dan Cope’s proposed move to the US has been delayed for 12 months.

Cope was due to jet off to the States to take up a four-year scholarship in America next month but the offers he received from nine universities included additional funding required from the player which were not acceptable.

Instead, Cope put himself back in the ‘shop window’ playing in a trial match in London last week although he figured in an unaccustomed left back position which has now prompted the revision of his CV.

The former Sunday League striker, who top-scored at Harrison Park last season with 16 goals to his name, has now delighted Johnson after deciding to remain in the UK until at least next August.

Johnson is delighted with the development describing it as one of the highs and lows of football management.

The manager said, “This is a real bonus - Dan told me he would be jetting out one day and the next he told me he was staying for another season.

We now have four strikers competing for places next season and all were in the goals last season”, he added.

CLOSE SEASON GOSSIP

Leek Town manager Wayne Johnson has been taking a look at no fewer that 13 trialists who responded to his call for players who would like to make a go of it in semi-pro football.

The 13 players have trained with the club’s senior side over the last two weeks and they will have just two more sessions to convince the manager they have what it takes to play at this level as Johnson intends making a final decision on their futures before the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Johnson is looking to strengthen in goal and at the back in the build-up to the new season which kicks in on 21 August – fixtures will be published on 14 July.

Last weekend he invited four established players along to training and another new face is scheduled to train with the Harrison Park outfit this week.


STEWARDS WANTED

With the new season fast approaching, Leek Town Football Club is on the look out for volunteers to become match day stewards.

Whilst the positions are unpaid stewards get free admission to all Blues’ home games as well as refreshments at half-time and after the game.

No experience is necessary as full training will be given so, anyone interested should get in touch via the ‘Contact Leek Town' link on the Club’s website or contact Andy Reeves at any of the pre-season friendlies.

Anyone who doesn’t fancy stewarding but would like to get involved in the running of the club in any way should also contact the club via the website.

FA CUP AND TROPHY DRAWS

The draws for the early rounds of this season’s FA Cup and FA Trophy have been released by the FA.

The Blues will kick-off their FA Cup campaign in the Preliminary Round with a home tie against Eccleshall or Southam United to be played on Saturday 28th August.

Eccleshall play in the Vodkat North West Counties League Division One whilst Southam United ply their trade in the Midland Combination.

Should Leek progress to the First Qualifying Round they will travel to either: Coalville Town, Stone Dominoes, AFC Wulfrunians or Heath Hayes.

In the FA Trophy Preliminary Round, Blues find themselves with a hard task on their hands with a visit to Clitheroe on the 2nd October in a rematch of their FA Cup tie there of two years ago.

The winners will travel to Premier Division Burscough two weeks later.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES KICK IN

Blues raise the curtain on their pre-season friendly programme next weekend with a home game against League Two neighbours, Macclesfield Town.

The Silkmen have opened their pre-season with away victories over Buxton and Northern Ireland side Cliftonville and will take on Crusaders on Tuesday before returning to the mainland for the game at Harrison Park on Saturday, 3.00pm.

Meanwhile, Blues continue their preparations for the Macclesfield game with further training sessions at the Hockey Club this coming Tuesday and Thursday.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES

Leek’s confirmed pre-season fixture list is as follows:
Sat 17 July Macclesfield Town (h)
Wed 21 July Port Vale (h)
Sat 24 July Congleton Town (a)
Thur 29 July Biddulph Victoria (a)
Tues 3 Aug Eastwood Town (h)
Sat 14 August Buxton (h)