AFC Telford United today completed one of their biggest ever signings by swooping for non-League goal machine Terry Fearns.
The 30-year-old has signed on a one-year contract from Droylsden, where he scored eight goals last season, when his team finished bottom of Blue Square Premier.
But it is the previous record of the former Wigan Athletic youngster which will attract all the attention of Bucks supporters.
The north-west based forward bagged 111 goals in three seasons for Vauxhall Motors and scored 41 goals for Southport when they won the Blue Square North title in 2004-5. He then moved to Droylsden for an undisclosed fee and hit 27 goals as the Manchester-based club gained promotion into Blue Square Premier in 2006-7.
It is understood Fearns rejected a move to Kettering, who had a bid of around £25,000 accepted in January, to keep his options open when his contract ran out this summer.And Fearns has elected to continue his career with Telford, much to the delight of manager Rob Smith.
“It’s an absolutely massive signing for us and I’m still pinching myself that we have got Terry because he scores bags of goals everywhere he has been,” said the Bucks boss.
“Every team is looking for a natural goalscorer and I think we have got the best for our level.
“The fact we finished second in the league helped us and the ground and the fans helped us.
“It was the first time Terry had been to Telford and he was very impressed. The thought of scoring at the Hutch end (David Hutchinson Stand) in front of 2,000 people obviously appealed.
“He didn’t have the best of seasons last year but Droyslden struggled and I don’t think the training regime was the best up there. We will get him fitter than he has ever been before and he comes alive in the box.”
On another hectic day for the Bucks, Smith also moved closer to finalising his retained list.
Lee Vaughan has penned another one-year contract, while Asa Charlton and Carl Rodgers have both signed non-contract terms.
Elliott Durrell has also agreed a non-contract deal, but will spend much of next season on loan – while fellow TCAT student Matthew Wood has been released, although Smith and assistant Larry Chambers will continue to monitor the youngster’s progress.
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