DEFENDER Brendan Kelly and keeper Paul Evans have boosted Halesowen Town by rejecting moves to link-up with former boss Shaun Cunnington at Evesham United.

Cunnington signed the pair during his spell in charge at The Grove and it had been reported that the defender had followed his former manager to Worcestershire.

However, one player who will be linking up with the ex-Yeltz chief is young midfielder Mitch Botfield as he has agreed a move to the Jubilee Stadium as he is at college near Gloucester and it will be easier from a travelling of view, especially to training and midweek games.

Meanwhile midfielder Neil Barnfield, a key part of Yeltz’s push for a play-off place last season, has also spoken to Cunnington and is still considering his options.

Evesham’s website had announced that Kelly, Barnfield and Botfield had all signed but chairman Colin Brookes insisted that was not the case.

The charman also confirmed Town boss John Hill has been in talks with a number of players as he looks to replace leading scorer Ben Haseley.

The 27-year-old has agreed to join Blue Square Bet North side Solihull Moors after a prolific spell in which he scored more than 50 goals in less than two seasons having joined from Heath Hayes, including 42 last term.

Brookes said Hill had been very active over the past week talking to players and had ‘irons in the fire’ not just for replacing Haseley.

“We lose Paul (Evans) for three weeks as he gets married in September so John has a keeper to signed to step in. “He was a bit flat last week with stories about three or four players signing for Evesham but he feels things have picked up now.

“He’s already signed eight or nine of the squad from last season and spoken to most of the others and had pretty good responses.

“Shaun is more than entitled to talk to players, that’s what makes him such a good manager but we’re hoping Neil will stay. “He has just set up his own scaffolding business and his wife is due to have a baby later this year, so hopefully as there is a lot less travelling in the Evo-Stik Northern compared to the Southern.

“When he sits and thinks it through he’ll stay because it would be a big loss if he elected to go.”

On Haseley’s departure Brookes added: “I’ve spoke to Ben on Friday, he thanked us for the positive comments we said about him but I told him that’s because they are true.

“He left us in the right way and if things don’t work out for him at Solihull the door is always open for him here.”