Yeltz trio head for exit (From Halesowen News)

Yeltz trio head for exit

4:50pm Tuesday 29th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

HALESOWEN Town will welcome in the New Year with a changed squad as three players prepare to depart.

Midfielders Tom Breward and Paul O’Brien have both left in search of first team opportunities elsewhere, while veteran full back Jamie Smith is mulling over an offer from Welsh League Premier side Airbus UK.

Boss Matt Clarke revealed the former Wolves and Crystal Palace man had been offered the assistant managers job at the Chester-based side.

He said: “It’s a good opportunity for Jamie, like me he is doing his UEFA B coaching badges and is keen to get into the management side of things.

“At the moment it’s impossible for us to offer him a coaching role here but we will definitely be keeping in touch and he may be back here in the summer, depending on how things go at Airbus.

“You don’t want to lose a player like him but in the circumstances it’s understandable.”

Clarke has been boosted by the return of wideman Alex Cowley, who agreed a switch from Stourbridge on December 23.

The Yeltz have also boosted their goal threat by adding former Bristol City and Luton Town striker Tony Thorpe to the squad.

Clarke added: “Tony works for Godfrey Ingram and that’s how it all came about.

“He has not been playing much recently but has been coming to training.

“He has looked really, really sharp and while he is not as young as players we normally look to bring in, you can’t turn down quality like that when you have the chance.”

Clarke’s first six months in charge at the club have been tumultuous to say the least and at one stage it appeared the Yeltz would not even start the season.

Now, ahead of Saturday’s game at Evesham United, they sit well placed to mount a play-off challenge though Clarke insists no-one at the Grove is getting carried away.

“With everything that’s happened if we say our aim is to get into the play-offs we could be setting ourselves up for a bit of a fall.

“It’s a very competitive league this year and there are a number of teams who will be eyeing those spots.

“At the start of the season the aim was merely survival and that’s what we will continue to focus on for now.

“Once we have reached our first target of 50 points we can push on from there.

“It’s been a little surprising at how well we have done.

“Having said that we have players with Premier League experience like Stefan Moore and Simon Johnson.

“You would be disappointed if they didn’t perform.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)