Striker abandons title bid for life down under

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Lancaster City will have to finish their race for promotion without striker Jordan Connerton who migrated to Australia on Tuesday night three days after informing shocked officials that he was upping sticks to move down under.

The 24-year-old former Crewe Alexandra forward, pictured, returned to Giant Axe in November from Kendal Town and only told head coach Darren Peacock and his staff on Saturday night that he was leaving the country to start a new life on the other side of the world.

Connerton wrote himself into the club's history books in 2009 when he netted 38 times to set a new club record for a season's tally and earn his move to Crewe.

The timing of his exit this time around, so soon after the Evo-Stik NPL's transfer deadline closed last Thursday, hasn't endeared the striker to head coach Darren Peacock with the sixth placed Dolly Blues fighting to secure a play-off spot.

He said: "Jordan knocked on my door after the Bamber Bridge game and told me he was going to Australia. It was a total shock to us all. We didn’t have an inkling. He could have come to me on the quiet and said he was thinking of going."

Image courtesy of the Lancaster Guardian