Striker Neil Tolson has been targeted by aspiring Conference leaders Rushden and Diamonds.

Interest: Neil Tolson

The cash-laden club see Tolson as a Diamond-pleaser by providing the goals needed to home in on an ambitious ascent to the Football League this season. The Conference side missed out on an audacious bid for Scunthorpe's top marksman Jamie Forrester yesterday.

Now they have turned to Tolson. Rushden scout Cyril Lea, the former Hull City coach, was at Bootham Crescent, where Tolson whacked in a hat-trick in last night's 3-1 reserves' win over Lincoln City.

Now they are expected to firm up their interest today with a transfer deadline day-busting bid.

And with City eager to recoup some cash for Tolson, who can walk away from the club in summer on a free under the Bosman ruling, then a move in the region of £20,000 was being lined up.

Tolson told the Evening Press he believed he could still do a good job in the Nationwide league Second Division and he admitted he was reluctant to step down in the Conference at the age of just 25.

But he added; "I have always said I would not want to come out of the Football League.

"But if I was to do that then the only club I would go to is Rushden and Diamonds. They are an ambitious club, one which is going places. If they got promotion this season then I could see them going up next season as well."

Tolson, who in the past two months has turned down moves to Third Division basement outfits Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United after fees of £20,000 were agreed, still hoped a Football League club might come in for him today and end the limbo of his career at City since talks over a new contract broke down.

"I don't want to sound big-headed, but I honestly feel I can do a job in the Football League and at this level," said Tolson.

"But if Rushden and Diamonds want to talk to me then fine. I am prepared to talk to anyone and it might be a case of taking one step backward to go two steps forward."

City caretaker-manager Neil Thompson confirmed Rushden's interest in Tolson, who made his senior City recall last week against Wigan Athletic.

"They are keen on him and want to talk," said Thompson.

"Neil Tolson is due to walk away from here for nothing in the summer so it would be good business if we can get some sort of a fee for him."

Thompson meanwhile was hoping to lure another player in on loan before today's deadline, while interest was also building up for transfer-listed midfielder Steve Agnew.

However, the City caretaker-manager suffered his first setback in the transfer market when he lost out on highly-rated Newcastle United midfielder Paul Barrett.

The 20-year-old Barrett was due to join team-mate David Burt in the City reserves line-up against Lincoln last night.

But instead Barrett headed for City's Second Division rivals Wrexham, whom he joined on a three-year contract much to Thompson's dismay.

"It's a blow because we were keen on the lad. I wanted to see him play, but Wrexham have come in," said Thompson.

City have also been hammered by a fresh injury rap.

Defender Andy McMillan has been ruled out of Sunday's critical trip to Lincoln City with a knee injury. The damage was aggravated in training and he is currently on crutches to help to keep the joint straight.

Timely treble

Neil Tolson must have impressed watching Rushden & Diamonds scout Cyril Lea when his hat-trick powered York City reserves to a solid 3-1 Pontin's League triumph over Lincoln City.

If the Minstermen wanted a lift ahead of Sunday's Second Division six-pointer against the same opposition then it was provided by last night's battling performance.

Fielding two trialists in Graham Coughlan, a central defender from Blackburn Rovers, and wide midfielder David Burt from Newcastle, City looked a lop-sided outfit at times.

But they stuck firmly to their task and eventually overwhelmed the Red Imps' second-string thanks to Tolson's triple blast.

Neat footwork from Tolson engineered the opening for his first goal midway through the first-half.

Lincoln levelled with an acrobatic volley from Graham Lewis in the 63rd minute. Soon after he was red-carded for a stamping offence on Coughlan, who proved a robust influence alongside a towering performance from skipper Graham Rennison.

Down to ten men Lincoln succumbed to City's pressure. Unselfish work from Neil Woods teed up Tolson for his second goal and then three minutes from time the striker lashed in a half-volley that tore past ex-Scarborough goalkeeper Barry Richardson after a surge from Andrew Dawson.

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