Astley On The Move
Thu 28th April 2011 | Flixton | By Ian Templeman
After topping the Premier Division goalscoring charts for most of the season, Flixton striker Astley Mulholland is gearing up for a move up the footballing ladder over the summer.
Not surprisingly, with over 40 goals to his name this season, the 22 year old striker is a wanted man with a number of Football League and Blue Square Bet Premier clubs currently in competition for his signature.
Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Kidderminster Harriers have offered him the chance to come down for pre-season training, but Npower League Two club Crewe Alexandra are leading the chase, and Astley played in a trial match for Alex in a friendly against Blackburn Rovers' reserves last Tuesday.
Flixton manager Lloyd Morrison told the Manchester Evening News that he was delighted at the progress Astley has made this season.
He said: "We've had scouts up from Crewe and I think it would be a great move for Astley. We had Danny Gardner go there last year and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Astley go there.
"I think they (Crewe) liked the look of him. He didn't score but he had a decent game and you couldn't tell he was a triallist.
"No disrespect to the clubs that have been after him but there's some really great clubs after him now, and I think we'll see him move up a good few levels in the summer.
"When we first signed him I thought we'd only keep hold of him for three or four months but he's not been interested in moving and he's given us a great season.
"I think if he chooses the right club he will score goals at any level. He's got the ability and goalscorers are few and far between. I think he should just choose whichever club is best for him.”
With the departure of his star striker, Lloyd now faces the problem of trying to replace him.
"How do you replace a forty-goal a season striker? We'll have to find another one – and with no budget. But that will be four players who will have got full-time contracts from us in the last two years and it shows we're doing something right.
"It's nice when we get the best out of them. I'm quite proud because there's not many non-League managers who can say that."
Astley On The Move
Thu 28th April 2011 | Flixton
By Ian Templeman
After topping the Premier Division goalscoring charts for most of the season, Flixton striker Astley Mulholland is gearing up for a move up the footballing ladder over the summer.
Not surprisingly, with over 40 goals to his name this season, the 22 year old striker is a wanted man with a number of Football League and Blue Square Bet Premier clubs currently in competition for his signature.
Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Kidderminster Harriers have offered him the chance to come down for pre-season training, but Npower League Two club Crewe Alexandra are leading the chase, and Astley played in a trial match for Alex in a friendly against Blackburn Rovers' reserves last Tuesday.
Flixton manager Lloyd Morrison told the Manchester Evening News that he was delighted at the progress Astley has made this season.
He said: "We've had scouts up from Crewe and I think it would be a great move for Astley. We had Danny Gardner go there last year and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Astley go there.
"I think they (Crewe) liked the look of him. He didn't score but he had a decent game and you couldn't tell he was a triallist.
"No disrespect to the clubs that have been after him but there's some really great clubs after him now, and I think we'll see him move up a good few levels in the summer.
"When we first signed him I thought we'd only keep hold of him for three or four months but he's not been interested in moving and he's given us a great season.
"I think if he chooses the right club he will score goals at any level. He's got the ability and goalscorers are few and far between. I think he should just choose whichever club is best for him.”
With the departure of his star striker, Lloyd now faces the problem of trying to replace him.
"How do you replace a forty-goal a season striker? We'll have to find another one – and with no budget. But that will be four players who will have got full-time contracts from us in the last two years and it shows we're doing something right.
"It's nice when we get the best out of them. I'm quite proud because there's not many non-League managers who can say that."
