NEIL YOUNG is waiting to hear whether striker Jamie Rainford wants to stay at Chester.
The Blues boss revealed after Monday’s 1-1 home league draw against Nantwich, which attracted a record-breaking crowd of 3,560, that Chester had received interest from three clubs wanting to speak to Rainford.
And Young, who has seen Chester’s lead at the top of the Northern Premier Division reduced to just one point, today confirmed that Rainford has now been given permission to speak to two clubs.
“A couple of offers are on the table for Jamie and he has now been given permission to speak to two clubs,” Young said.
“But people must remember that Jamie is still a Chester player and that he may decide to stay with us.
“I signed Jamie because I knew he was a good player and he demonstrated that during his recent loan spell at FC Halifax Town.
“He didn’t have a good start at our place, but if he stays at Chester I’m sure we’ll see him playing better and I’m certain he can still do a job for us.”
Young confirmed Rainford had attracted offers from clubs at a higher level and that he hadn’t set a timescale for the player to make a decision, but he had been speaking to a few clubs recently in case Rainford decided to leave.
He added: “If Jamie does decide he wants to leave then I’ll definitely want to replace him with another forward.
“I have been looking at one or two options and I have been speaking to a few clubs about the possibility of signing a striker on a deal until the end of the season.
“Most people will have noticed on Monday that we are currently short on numbers and we will be without Wes Baynes and Michael Powell in our next few games because of suspensions.
“Jack Duggan has now returned to Fleetwood and Matty McGinn was sidelined on Monday with a thigh problem.”
Young is hoping he can sign a Conference Premier midfielder with Football League experience in time for Saturday’s league match at Rushall Olympic.
He said: “Everything has been agreed for us to sign a midfielder on a short term contract.
“I’m 95 per cent sure the player will sign but he is currently trying to sort out a financial agreement and tie up the final details of the paperwork.
“The lad is a midfielder in the Conference who will be a good signing for us because he is fairly young with Football League experience.”
Meanwhile, Young admitted he had been surprised to see news on the Welsh Premier League website that Luke Holden has signed for The New Saints.
Young said: “Luke played for us against AFC Liverpool in a training game on Thursday, but he failed to turn up for Saturday’s training session and he never turned up for Monday’s match.
“I have tried to contact him but he hasn’t returned my calls, and I was very surprised to read on the Welsh League website that he had signed for TNS.
“I can understand why Luke has decided to sign for TNS because it is a full time club and it will be a good financial move for him, but he has signed for Chester and we haven’t received seven days notice on him from TNS.
“There are ways and means of trying to sign a player and as far as we are concerned TNS have never contacted us about wanting to sign Luke.”
Holden, 23, a former Liverpool youth and Tranmere Rovers trainee, signed for TNS in August 2007 and was released in April 2008 after making 22 first team starts before following manager Ken McKenna to Cammell Laird.
Holden played at Bradford Park Avenue and Rhyl before attracting interest from Coventry City but, after failing to agree personal terms, joined Charlton Athletic on loan on transfer deadline day.
He then signed for Wrexham on an emergency loan deal in February 2010 after Charlton decided not to offer a permanent contract.