YOUNG SWOOPS FOR CHESTER DUO AHEAD OF DEADLINE DAY
Colwyn Bay Manager Neil Young has this evening signed former Chester City FC duo Glenn Rule & Ben Jones.
Ben Jones, 17yrs, is a tall, hardworking centre forward who made several appearances in The Football League with Chester City during his first year as an apprentice at the club and has also been capped twice for Wales at under-17 level.

Before joining Chester, Jones was with Preston North End. A former pupil at Connah's Quay High School, Jones was a product of the Flintshire Schoolboys team that has previously produced stars such as Ian Rush and Michael Owen.

Glenn Rule can play as a midfielder or full back and is a product of Chester’s youth set-up and one of several youngsters to have graduated to the first-team squad since 2007. He made his debut as a substitute against Carlisle United in October 2007 as a 17-year old and went on to make 26 appearances in the football league.

With Thursday’s registration deadline day closing at 5pm the manager is also hoping to complete another deal before the day is done.

The club have also today secured the return of Crewe forward Alex Tichiner who enjoyed a successful previous loan spell before sustaining an injury.
 
The deal was completed before the UniBond leagues registration deadline at 5pm this afternoon.
 
The player will become available once he has recovered from an injury sustained during his previous spell which may be another few weeks away and he won't be available for the play-offs, should the team make it through!!!
 
A move to take a central midfielder and another forward on-loan fell through last night as the players concerned turned down the move due to travel issues.
 
There has also been a delay to the international clearance being issued for former Chester City striker, Ben Jones. This is due to a  change in ruling that means that players under-18 requiring IC have to  now complete additional paperwork which has to be submitted to FIFA... 

And this may take up to two weeks!!!

NEW SIGNINGS BOOST BAY ASSAULT ON PLAY-OFFS
Colwyn Bay FC have been given a further boost after Saturdays 3-1 home win over Chorley sent them back up to third in the table with the news that, prior to the game, Neil Young secured the signing of former Accrington Stanley and TNS left-sided player Chris King.,

The Wirral-based 30-year-old was released by Accrington at Christmas after his contract expired while he was injured, and after turning down several other clubs, he has agreed to join the Bay until the end of the season.

After starting at Tranmere, he had spells at Stalybridge Celtic and Southport before joining TNS, where he won three Welsh titles and was in the TNS side that played Liverpool in the Champions League.

"He has looked after himself, is still very quick and gives us another dimension going forward - plus he is experienced which is what you need at this level," said the manager.

King will be available for Tuesday's game at Salford providing international clearance comes through in time.

"I was very frustrated on Friday after I thought everything was agreed on getting striker Michael Wilde on loan from Fleetwood, only for him to decide at the last minute to go to Halifax instead but with Chris King signing I have got one of my targeted players," added Neil.

King’s signing comes after securing the welcome return of forward Adriano “Celi” Rigoglioso last week from FC United. Former Liverpool reserve player, Rigoglioso (pic right), deservedly took the man of the match award on Saturday after a well taken goal sent the Bay on their way to a much needed 3-1 win over Chorley.  

Halifax vs Colwyn Bay

AFTER four defeats in their last six league games - three of them to top five rivals, not many will expect Colwyn Bay to get much from Saturday's trip to second-placed Halifax.

The Shaymen are unbeaten at home in the league this season and have lost only once in their last 16 fixtures. And the Seagulls' pre-match plans were hit on Friday when forward Paul Brown, who had initially agreed to join the club from Droylsden, decided to pull out of the deal and join Witton Albion instead after talks with Gary Finley.

Manager Neil Young commented: "It is a bit of sickener, but Paul would not have been available for midweek games due to his work and the search will go on to try and bring in the players we need."

The manager has recalled Tom McGill from a loan spell at Buckley Town and has also added Jamie Dunn to the squad to increase his attacking options against Halifax, but Jimmy Kelly remains a slight doubt with a troublesome calf strain.

There is also the big blow of losing central defender Danny Meadowcroft, who has been recalled from his loan spell by Northwich Victoria, and the manager must decide whether to recall Tim Brandreth or go with Greg Stones alongside Dave Challinor in the centre of defence.

"We have a game plan in mind, but we have a number of selection options and we will make a final decision once we've seen the pitch," said the manager.
I understand the Shay playing surface, where they also play Rugby League, is heavily sanded and bare of grass in places, and that may possibly influence team selection.

Halifax will be fired up because a win will take them to within one point of leaders Lancaster, who are without a game on Saturday and still have to travel to The Shay for what could be a title decider.

Neil Young commented: "To my mind Halifax are the best team in the league, but we have to be positive and go there looking to win," There has been a number of surprise results in this division in the last month and we have to believe that we can produce another.  It is important we are organised and don't give anything away in the first 20 minutes of each half."

YOUNG SWOOPS FOR FORMER TRANMERE FORWARD
Neil Young has been boosted by agreeing a deal to sign former Tranmere & Barrow forward Paul Brown from Droylsden.

Brown (24) is pictured tussling with England International Stewart Downing whilst playing for Barrow against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last season. He made his debut for Tranmere Rovers in 2004 making a further two appearances in League Two during the 2004–05 season. The following season, 2005–06, he was sent out on loan to Accrington Stanley in September, and made three appearances in the Conference National.

He then joined Barrow in August 2006, before leaving March 2007. He then joined Australian club Kingston City, returning to Barrow in August 2007, helping them to achieve promotion from the Conference North via the play-offs in 2007–08.

After one season in the Conference National he was released by Barrow. Brown then signed for Droylsden in the 2009–10 season following his release by Barrow where he has scored 10 goals in 30 appearances.

It is hoped that Brown will join up with the squad in time for Saturday’s away trip at Halifax but that will be subject to international clearance.

Meanwhile manager Neil Young is continuing his efforts to further improve the squad although more additions are unlikely before the weekend.   

MEADOWCROFT RETURNS TO VICS AS YOUNG AIMS TO BOLSTER SQUAD
Defender Daniel Meadowcroft has today returned to Northwich Victoria as his loan spell has now come to an end and could not be extended. Dan produced some excellent performances during his time at the Bay and the club would like to thank him for his whole hearted efforts and wish him all the best for the future.

Meanwhile, Crewe Alexander’s young forward Alex Tichiner is unlikely to feature again due to an ankle injury and will go back to Crewe but a return to the Bay has not been totally ruled out.

Manager Neil Young is currently in the process of trying to strengthen the team for the final play-off assault and has already made a number of enquiries for players with a winger and striker at the top of the list.

SHERIDAN COMMITS FUTURE TO THE BAY
Colwyn Bay manager Neil Young has been boosted by securing promising forward Ian Sheridan on a contract which keeps him at the club until the end of the 2010/11 season. 20 year old Sheridan is the current top scorer with 14 goals in his debut season at the club following his signing from AFC Liverpool in the summer and has really impressed with his pace and finishing ability.

Manager Neil Young said “I am very pleased that Ian has committed himself for next season he has been rewarded for his excellent form and hard work over this season so far and at 20 I believe if he keeps learning he can have a very big future.”

Ian Sheridan commented after signing the deal “I am looking forward to my future at Colwyn Bay and hope to help the club achieve success. I am pleased to have committed myself to the club for next year and I’m now concentrating on making sure we finish this season strongly, hopefully with promotion.”

SPECIAL MATCH ENTRANCE OFFER FOR MARCH
Colwyn Bay Football Club is offering supporters the opportunity to purchase a special “March Match Ticket” which covers entry for all 4 home games for the month, with entrance to one match included for FREE.

The offer covers the following crucial home games in March as the battle for promotion heats up:

LANCASTER CITY
Tues 9th March 7.45pm

WARRINGTON TOWN
Tues 16th March 7.45pm

CHORLEY
Sat 20th March 3:00pm

WAKEFIELD
Sat 27th March 3:00pm

Tickets will be available at the turnstile for the Lancaster game on 9th March (KO 7.45) and MUST be purchased on the night in order for fans to take advantage of the offer.