ONE-TIME York City target Luke Beckett has joined ailing First Division club Stockport County.

Cash-strapped Chesterfield have collected £100,000 from Stockport after transfer-listing the 25-year-old marksman, who turned down Bootham Crescent in favour of going to Saltergate 18 months ago.

County's capture also ends the interest shown by City's basement rivals Darlington, who were keen on adding Beckett to beef up their promotion push.

As first revealed in the Evening Press last week, Darlington boss Tommy Taylor is on the look-out for a new striker and reportedly made an inquiry about Michael Proctor, currently on loan at Bootham Crescent from Sunderland.

With ex-City striker Barry Conlon suspended for their next three games, Darlington however have been spared a forward crisis with Cambridge United allowing Dan Chillingworth to extend his stay at Feethams.

Updated: 12:10 Friday, December 14, 2001