Non-league hot-shot Damian Reeves has performed a U-turn and re-signed with Altrincham.
Striker turns down extended trial with Gillingham
Non-league hot-shot Damian Reeves has performed a U-turn and re-signed with Altrincham.
The 26-year-old, who scored 44 goals last term, had attracted interested from a number of clubs including Doncaster, Preston and Gillingham.
He played for the Gills in their pre-season clash at Dartford and was expected to remain with the League Two club this week.
However, he rejected the chance to continue training with the Gills and instead has returned to the North West and re-signed with Altrincham.
"I'm just glad it is all sorted, and I can look forward to returning to Moss Lane, because I really have been passed from pillar to post during the summer. It has not been a pleasant experience at all," he told the club's
official website.
Nightmare
"At one point, everyone in the country seemed to think I was signing for Doncaster, and I thought I was, as well. But the goalposts kept moving, just as they did at Gillingham, and the whole thing turned into a bit of a nightmare.
"I was supposed to be signing for Gillingham last week, then the manager decided he wanted to see me in match action, so I headed down there on Saturday, thinking it would all be completed after the game.
"I fitted in well with the rest of the lads, and Martin Allen said he was certain I would score goals in League Two. Rather than sign me there and then, though, he wanted me to go away for two weeks and work on my fitness.
"With the start of the season so close, that wasn't what I wanted to hear, so after setting off on the journey home, I stopped halfway and told him I'd leave it.
"To be honest, I think his plans had changed. He sold his keeper to a Premier League club and signed three new players on the Friday, and I can't help thinking that had something to do with it."
Ambition
Reeves did confirm he still wants to play in the Football League and has had a clause inserted into his deal which would allow him to move on if a bid was made.
"It would have to be a league club," he said.
"I wouldn't leave Altrincham for another Conference club, not even in the Conference National, but I hope people can appreciate that I am still ambitious about playing in the Football League.
"That's why the clause is there, but I'm not even thinking of that now. I'm just glad it is all sorted out and I'm an Alty player again, and all I'm thinking of is pulling the jersey on again and trying to score even more goals than last season, if I possibly can."
