Lynn land Conference hot-shot

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League King's Lynn Town have made a clear statement of intent for the coming season by completing the high-profile signing of striker Rob Duffy, writes Greg Plummer.

Duffy, pictured, who has operated at the highest level of the Conference for more than ten years, arrives at The Walks following a lengthy injury lay-off after fracturing his ankle for Lincoln City. The capture of the 30-year-old former Welsh Under-21 frontman is a major boost on the eve of promoted Lynn’s Premier Division opener at Nantwich Town on Saturday.

Linnets boss Gary Setchell told the Lynn News on Friday: "Rob is a huge signing for us. Once he gets himself fully fit and firing on all cylinders he has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the league. He is an absolute winner and fits the profile of exactly what we are looking for at the football club.

"I played with him at Rushden when he was 18 and he was a real handful then. If fit, he is still a very good Conference striker. He is exactly in the same mould as Russell Dunkley, other than the fact that he has played at the highest level of Non-League football for so many years. Rob just doesn’t want the demands of full-time football anymore. He just wants to get back to playing and enjoying it, which he certainly will do with us."

Duffy, who has been signed on a non-contract basis, has scored goals wherever he has played. He made his name with Oxford United, scoring 24 goals in 56 games. A spell with Mansfield yielded 28 goals in 78 appearances, before at stint at Grimsby resulted in eight goals in 52 starts. His other clubs include Rushden, Cambridge United, Gainsborough Trinity, Wrexham, Newport County, Kettering, Stamford and Lincoln City.

Nottingham-based Duffy, who played just three times for the Imps last season, said: "Last season was a complete nightmare for myself. Setch rang me to see what my plans were and I like what he had to say, along with his ambitions. I just want to get back to playing and enjoying my football on a regular basis and King’s Lynn fit the bill of what I am looking for."