Star striker rejects suitors to stay

Ilkeston FC manager Kevin Wilson was celebrating on Wednesday after persuading star striker Rob Duffy to stay at the New Manor Ground and spearhead their EVO-STIK League campaign.

The Robins manager admitted this week that he feared Duffy, pictured, could be on his way to Goole after the EVO-STIK League First Division South's Vikings served notice that they intended to bid for the services of the well-travelled Welsh-born forward.

A delighted Wilson said: "We’ve had on-going dialogue with Rob since last Thursday when Goole notified us that they were putting in ‘seven days’ for him and I’m delighted to say that he’s agreed to stay.

"It’s obviously great news from our point of view because he’s a major cog in the system we are using but I also happen to think it’s good news for him.

"He lives in Nottingham so clearly it makes logistical sense for him to not be travelling all winter to Goole and back. And although it’s been a feature of his career that he’s regularly changed clubs, I think it’s in his best interests to settle down and achieve things with us."

Duffy, 31, is currently the Premier Division’s top scorer with eight goals in as many games and according to Wilson, his influence on the club's youngsters has been immense.

Wilson added: "I don’t mean it to sound disrespectful when I say he’s the granddad of our team and that the role he is playing, feeding off the ‘young legs’ around him, suits perfectly.

"He’s an intelligent footballer who will always get goals if he’s given the right service and I doubt if he’s ever had better service at any of the many clubs he’s had.

"People might talk about the things he doesn’t do but I’m more interested in his strengths and now that his fitness has improved compared to when he joined us at the back end of last season, he’s a real handful for defenders."