Taylor made for Cup return

AFC Fylde’s Michael Taylor signed permanently for the Coasters on Friday and could go straight into manager Dave Challinor's FA Cup First Round side.

The defender returned to Kellamergh Park on Friday from Conference North Chester 24 hours before Saturday’s First Round clash with League Two Accrington Stanley after making 11 appearances during a six week loan period earlier in the campaign.

Paperwork permitting, the experienced centre-half who started out with Blackburn Rovers’ youth and joined Chester in 2010, could force his way into Challinor’s side as the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s sole surviving club bids to reach the FA Cup Second Round.

Challinor said: "It's a deal that we tried to make happen straight away whether it was extending his loan for another three months, which, had he not got injured we probably would have done, or something we could do permanently.

"Thankfully for us he's surplus to requirements at Chester and when he was here earlier he's come in and played really well."

The Coasters manager believes Taylor will be a great addition to an already strong central defence and will give him a selection headache battling for his place alongside Glenn Steel, Michael Hughes and Phil Doughty.

Challinor added: "We conceded some poor goals at the start of the season and we made the decision to bring Taylor in and he seemed to steady the ship.

"Obviously for the lads who are out of the side it's difficult as there is competition for those places but we always want to do what's best for the club and the chance to bring Taylor in was a good opportunity. He knows what we're about and knows what the club is about as he has been here for six weeks already.

"He was on a good deal at Chester in fairness and for him to walk away from that and come here for less than he's on there and want to play football is a sign that he wants to do well and be part of what we want to achieve this year and beyond."