Pickering Town manager draws line under saga over Liam Salt's future (From York Press)

Pickering Town manager Jimmy Reid draws line under saga over Liam Salt's future

11:27am Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

PICKERING TOWN chief Jimmy Reid is hoping the saga over the future of striker Liam Salt is now at an end.

The Pikes boss said the 24-goal poacher had been the subject of a renewed approach from Northern Counties East League premier division rivals Bridlington Town and had once again reaffirmed his commitment to remaining at the Recreation Ground.

Under the terms of a seven-day approach, Bridlington, in second place in the league table, can negotiate with the forward for as long as 28 days, but Reid believes Salt will now remain a Pickering player regardless of the terms offered by Brid.

“They came back and offered some more money,” said Reid after he had talked last week of Salt’s determination to stay at Mill Lane.

“He has turned it down. They put seven days in a couple of weeks ago, so they can keep chatting away for another 14 days. He has said he is staying and it doesn’t matter what they are offering.”

Salt scored the second goal as Reid’s men beat Winterton Rangers 2-0 on Tuesday night.

New signing David Bramley, who has returned to the club, was between the sticks with Arran Reid suspended, but the younger Reid will not see his place threatened in the first team – despite a clean sheet.

Reid added: “The pitch was heavy but I wanted to play the game because we had not played for a while and Arran Reid was suspended, and I wanted to get that out of the way. The 2-0 was a fair result.

“David has come in as cover for Arran and he knows that. He knows the score. We will get him in for training once or twice and give him a few games before the end of the season.”

Reid will welcome back his son as well as defender John Heads for tomorrow’s home game against Staveley Miners Welfare, but Sam Calvert is missing. Ryan Braithwaite, the under-19s player who impressed during a 25-minute spell in midweek, may also be included in the squad.

“It is a big game for us and another three points we will try to earn,” Reid said. “They are three points ahead of us and we will once again be looking to try to kick on.”

Tadcaster Albion are without a game in the premier division but striker Carl Stewart’s two goals in a 3-2 midweek win at Glasshoughton Welfare, where the Brewers recovered from an early two goal deficit to take all three points, will have pleased manager Paul Marshall going into the break.

Leaders Scarborough Athletic are away to Liversedge looking to protect their three-point advantage at the top.

Selby Town, now 13 points adrift at the bottom of NCEL division one but with four games in hand on nearest rivals Appleby Frodingham, don’t have an easy task tomorrow.

They visit promotion-chasing Cleethorpes Town.

Manager Ian Dring signed defender Danny Swales from Teversal on the eve of the game.

There is no fixture for fifth-placed Knaresborough Town.