Hearn claims double deal for Terras'
duo is done
By Adam Summers & Ky Capel
Tuesday 31st January 2012
OSS Alan Knight firmly believes that Sam Malsom and Stephen
Reed would inject fresh impetus into the Magpies’ bid
to reach the Blue Square Bet South play-offs.
Dorchester Town chairman Shaun Hearn announced yesterday
that “it is a done deal with both players, subject to
them signing on the dotted line” but Weymouth are still
fighting to keep hold of Reed.
The Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division outfit have already
conceded defeat in terms of Malsom, who is set to put pen-to-paper
at the Avenue Stadium this evening, but they claim Reed told
them last Friday night he was staying – a statement the
26-year-old contradicted the following day when he told Echosport
that talks were still ongoing.
Malsom and Reed’s potential arrivals in the county town
would certainly give the club a huge lift at a crucial period
in the season, particularly following the departures of key
men Steve Devlin and Ben Dickenson over the past fortnight.
Knight, whose side sit just three points off the top five,
told Echosport: “Sam can play in a variety of roles,
including up top. We’ve been quite short up front after
losing Ryan Moss before Christmas and then Ben Dickenson,
but Sam will give us plenty of options.
“Reedy can also play in various positions, both on the
left and in the middle.
“They are still young lads but they are also experienced
players at the same time, especially Reedy.
“I’m looking forward to having them in the squad
and hopefully they will show everyone what good players they
are.
“We’ve got 13 games left and we want to push on
in those 13 games, but we’re also looking to next season
as well.
“We haven’t got the biggest squad in the world
and I don’t want players getting complacent. Hopefully
Sam and Reedy will give us options.
“They are good players and they will freshen up the
squad a bit.”
Meanwhile, the outlook is not quite so bright the other side
of the Ridgeway where the Terras are beginning to look very
thin on the ground.
With Reed and Malsom potentially on their way, Byron Napper’s
loan deal having expired and Lewis Tasker (injured) and Tom
Manley (work commitments) unable to travel, Brendon King’s
options are looking extremely limited ahead of tonight’s
trip to Stourbridge (7.45pm).
The Terras are hoping to tie up a loan move for AFC Totton
midfielder James Coutts in time for him to feature at the
War Memorial Athletic Ground but there are fears the relevant
paperwork will not be processed in time.
King, whose side have lost their last four in all competitions,
in which they have conceded 15 and scored just one, said:
“Fingers crossed the paperwork will get done.
“We have been lacking a bit of quality in the final
third of late and hopefully Couttsy can bring something to
the table in that regard. We just need that goal to give us
some confidence.
“Stourbridge are a good side and it promises to be another
very tough game.”
The cold snap which is sweeping the country at present has
put this evening’s game under threat.
For the latest updates visit dorsetecho.co.uk/sport
Terras: Jordan, Povall, Gerring, Poole, Jeannin, Dixon, Tribe,
Clarke, Duff, Reed, Coutts, Marshallsay, McKechnie, Groves,
Byerley.
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