Blue Square Bet North club Blyth Spartans’ captain Gareth Williams is being courted by Northern League side Whitley Bay.
This year’s FA Vase winners are reportedly interested in signing the defender who has played over 400 games for Blyth in the past ten years.
Spartans manager Mick Tait, however, is keen to hold on to the player.
“Whitley have put in seven days notice of approach for Cheeks [Williams] and I expect he’ll talk to them but I don’t want him to go. I’ve told him he’s still part of my plans for next season” he said.
“I’ve given him the go ahead to play for them in friendlies next week. I wouldn’t normally have done that but I wanted to give him the respect he deserves after his ten years of service at Croft Park. I just hope he realises the difference in levels between the Northern League and Blue Square North and wants to stay with us.”
While Williams was missing due to attending a wedding Blyth beat Spennymoor 2-1 in a friendly at the Brewery Field on Saturday.
Tait was pleased with his side’s showing.
“We were excellent in the first half playing really good football and creating chances, not necessarily clear cut ones, but nevertheless reasonable opportunities. We need to fine tune our play in the final third of the pitch” he commented.
“We dominated possession except for the first 15 minutes of the second half when Spennymoor had a bit of a go at us but I’d impressed on our lads at half time that we needed to stop them getting back into the game and it worked well with them creating very little.
“We played with a lot of purpose against a very good side.”
Blyth striker Paul Brayson missed an early penalty but put a second one away to give his side a 1-0 advantage at the interval.
In the second half a Brayson shot was parried away by the home goalkeeper to John Alexander who finished neatly. Spennymoor pulled a goal back late on after a mazy run and cross-goal shot from Gavin Cogden.
Alexander and Brayson for Blyth seem to be forging a better understanding up front and Tait was pleased by Alexander’s attitude.
“John told me he really wanted to have a right crack at it this year with us. He can play a lot better than he showed last season when he just didn’t click. That sort of thing happens and you have to give him credit for sticking at it.”
Ian Graham missed the Spennymoor game due to injury as did Nicky Deverdics who is still looking to get back into the professional game. Midfielder Liam O’Mahoney, who played for Sunderland reserves last season, came on in the second half and added some creativity and flair. Jake Cunningham made another appearance in the Blyth goal with Mark Cook playing for Gateshead. Cunningham, a Newcastle lad, who was with St. Mirren has impressed with what little he has had to do in the friendlies to date.
Next up for Blyth is a home game with Bedlington Terriers this Tuesday (27th July) at 7.30pm.