IAN Long says he is pleased that young striker Deqwon Ebanks is now staying at Tividale despite strong interest from Banbury United.

The club have also reported the Southern Premier League outfit to the Country FA for an illegal approach after they failed to put in seven days notice.

In fact, the first manager Long heard of the interest was after Banbury had announced the signing on the club's official website.

Lengthy talks followed between Long and Ebanks before the former Hereford and Westfields forward agreed it would be better to stay at The Beeches.

Long said: "I am really pleased that Deqwon Ebanks will be staying. He is a popular lad with all the players and the coaching staff.

"Perhaps Deqwon is a little naive with how things work at non-league. He is a young lad and maybe didn't realise what Banbury had done wrong.

"The same can't be said of Banbury and we have reported them for what happened. It is not how I would do business so it was disappointing for that to happen.

"The main thing is that it has worked out okay in the end and Deqwon is still our player."

Meanwhile, Long was left frustrated once again by Tividale's pitch after Saturday's league game against Stockbridge Park Steels had to be postponed. Last Tuesday's JW Hunt Cup contest with Sporting Khalsa also fell victim to the weather.

The manager even took matters into his own hands this week when he teamed up with the club's groundsman on Monday morning to carry out work to try to alleviate the problem.

He also said he hoped to organise a mid-week friendly contest to keep his players sharp ahead of this Saturday's away trip to second-placed Newcastle Town.

"It is very frustrating because we are on a great run but have not been able to play," he added. "Something needs to be done with the pitch because it can't keep happening. We will be putting in some sand and gravel to help the drainage in certain areas.

"It is like we will have to start all over again when we play Newcastle because of how long it has been since we were in action. Hopefully we can play a friendly and go there and continue where we left off. We have shown what we are capable of and we are full of confidence."

Long is now on the hunt to loan a goalkeeper to play this weekend due to Charlie Price and Paul Evans both being absent.