Setchell: Controversial keeper deserves a chance

King's Lynn Town manager Gary Setchell believes controversial goalkeeper Ashley Timms deserves to be given the opportunity to succeed in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

The 28-year-old former Manchester City trainee, pictured, signed for Lynn on Monday after ending a brief stint at Conference North Bradford Park Avenue.

His outstanding reputation has been damaged by two stints in prison but Lynn’s boss is sure he can get the best out of the much-travelled shot-stopper who started the season at Boston United before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent after he'd made 17 appearances.

Setchell told the Eastern Daily Press: "Everybody deserves a chance. I take players as I find them. People told me Gary Mills was a bad egg but he’s been nothing but brilliant and Massiah McDonald has not been any trouble either.

"When people come to this club they start with a clean canvas. We’ll take it week by week. He’s had a topsy-turvy career but I honestly believe he’s going to be an unbelievable keeper for this level. Along with Alex Street we’ll have two fantastic keepers at the club again."

Timms, in line to make his debut at Droylsden on Tuesday night, was jailed for 20 months in 2008 after trying to blackmail an un-named Premier League footballer over a sex video. In December 2011, he was behind bars again after being handed a two-year sentence for his part in an international e-mail banking scam.

Image courtesy of www.bostonunited.co.uk.