Gray’s goals key to Selby Town's survival bid (From York Press)

Danny Gray’s goals key to Selby Town's survival bid

12:02pm Friday 25th January 2013 in Sport

SELBY Town manager Ian Dring is confident new signing Danny Gray holds the key to kick-starting their season, writes Dale Harris.

Experienced goal machine Gray, signed from eighth-placed Northern Counties East League premier division side Tadcaster Albion, has a fine reputation following spells at clubs such as Pickering Town and Scarborough Athletic.

This has not been lost on Robins boss Dring, who said: “This is a massive signing for us.

“It gives us an advantage over the other teams in the league and also gives our squad a boost.

“We have played well and won about 70 per cent of each game, but we’ve needed someone to put the ball in the back of the net and Danny can certainly do that.

“He is a leader and plays with his heart on his sleeve.”

The striker arrives at Flaxley Road with the club 13 points adrift at the bottom of NECL division one, having only scored 21 goals all season.

Gray’s new boss is excited by his arrival, saying: “If he and the other strikers can gel together quickly, then it could really change our season.”

The forward may not be the only signing for the Robins, with Dring adding: “We are not far off strength-wise with our squad, but we are expecting another two maybe three new players to join us in the coming weeks.”

Selby have already captured the likes of Craig Sutton, Sean Greaves and Benjamin Scott within the last couple of months.

The manager believes that, despite the team’s current situation, they can turn things around, he said: “From where we are now, it is a massive climb and a massive ask, but I believe we can do it.

“They are a good set of lads and there is a good atmosphere in the dressing room. There are a lot of fighters in there and they are all up for the challenge.”

Tomorrow’s home match with Shirebrook Town will mark two months since the former Nottingham Forest player took over, but the Robins have only played three matches since then due to bad weather, and they have four games in hand.

With tomorrow’s game also doubtful, Dring stated: “It’s so frustrating. It doesn’t matter how much training you do, you can’t beat real match fitness.”