Holmes opts for Gresley return

Midfielder Danny Holmes has opted to return to his former club Gresley Rovers after Blues’ boss Lee Casswell agreed to tear up his contract.

The former Port Vale, Burton Albion and Altrincham player made just 15 appearances for Blues after joining from Gresley Rovers last summer and requested his release due to travelling difficulties from his derby home.

Veteran midfielder Wayne Corden, who has found it difficult to break into the Leek side this season, has informed Blues’ boss Lee Casswell that he will be hanging up his boots.

However, the former Port Vale winger turned out for Eccleshall at the weekend and Leek will hang on to his Evo-Stik registration just in case he changes his mind.

Meanwhile, Casswell is scouring the transfer market looking for reinforcements to boost his threadbare squad.

On Saturday at Shepshed he was only able to name three substitutes after Corden’s decision to quit whilst skipper Darren Tinson missed his first game of the season after pulling out of the game due to a throat infection.

Casswell is looking to sort out his goalkeeping cover whilst injury victim Danny Roberts remains out of action as Ben Chapman could be recalled at short notice by his club Nantwich Town.

The Blues’ boss is now weighing up his options and could follow up his interest in a keeper at the same level as Leek with a 7-day notice of approach.

Casswell also has his eye on a striker who has been training at Harrison Park and has had experience at Bolton Wanderers and the Nike Academy as well as training at Macclesfield Town.

The player may well be registered in time for the home game against Brigg on Tuesday.

Roberts misses out on surgery
Leek Town keeper Danny Roberts, who is currently nursing a fractured eye socket that needs three plates fitted, missed out on early surgery last week.

Although he was advised by the specialist that the required operation may not go ahead until February, an appointment was made for surgery to take place last Wednesday but the operation was cancelled when the surgeon booked in sick.

Meanwhile, Blues’ inspirational skipper Darren Tinson, who missed the away fixture at Shepshed on Saturday due to a throat infection, looks set to return to the action against Brigg on Tuesday.

Coming up
After the re-arranged home game against Brigg on Tuesday, Blues will be at home again on Saturday when Romulus are the visitors to Harrison Park.

The West Midlands based outfit, who ground-share at Sutton Coldfield Town, currently occupy 15th place in the table with 25 points from 22 games and are 7 places and 10 points behind Blues after both clubs drew on Saturday.

Romulus games have been well attended by Football League clubs this season all monitoring the potential and progress of leading scorer Marvin Johnson who, Sky Sports believes, is due to go on trial at Championship club Burnley.

Johnson's agent, Gino Culbertson, remained hopeful this week that an agreement could be reached for the 20-year-old, who is under a two-year contract at Coles Lane, to showcase his talent at Turf Moor.

But, Roms boss Richard Evans confirmed that no official approach had come from the Clarets before the club’s home game against Sheffield on Saturday which they drew 1-1.

Blues bonanza anniversary draw
The Leek Town Monthly Draw is celebrating its first anniversary with a mega-jackpot draw in the New Year.

It is now almost a year since the draw was launched and we are delighted to say in that time it has raised around £7,500 for the club with over £8,500 paid out in prize money, having paid out slightly more than 50% in winnings.

To celebrate the draw’s success the club will be holding a mega jackpot draw in January with the following prizes:
1st Prize - £500; 2nd Prize - £200; two 3rd Prizes of - £100; four 4th Prizes of - £50

However, you have to be in it to win it as they say, so make sure you sign up if you haven’t already or if you paid a 12 months subscription a year ago, please renew your membership.

The draw now boasts over 300 members, but the club would love to have more. It’s only £5 a month and the money raised really is vital to the club’s success on and off the pitch. Full details and an application form are available on the club’s website.

So, if you're not already a member this would be a great time to join - if you are a member please encourage your friends and family to sign up.

Leek Town Football Club needs to keep up this level of membership, which will help the club through the rest of this season and the start of the next.

And so club officials are urging all existing members to keep their membership going (particularly those who last year paid £60 to cover the full year - the club needs all those people to pay again).

Haddrell enters league’s leading scorer’s chart
For the first time this season Blues’ leading scorer Matt Haddrell has entered the division’s leading scorer’s charts based on league goals only.

Haddrell, who has scored five times in the last four games, is now 6th in the charts with 12 strikes just two behind former Leek striker Anthony Malbon who leads the table with 14.

Haddrell has now scored 19 goals in all competitions this season.