FOOTBALL: LIAM McDonald has wasted no time drafting in replacements for the outgoing Akwase Asante and Jamey Osborne with the double signing of talented duo Kristian Green and Ashley Sammons.
Green joins from Stourbridge where he will be sorely missed having been a regular throughout the Glassboys’ successful Evo-Stik League Northern Premier and FA Cup campaigns.
The 26-year-old is a versatile and highly-rated defender having been at Stourbridge since the summer of 2015 and previously played for Gornal Athletic and Halesowen Town.
“Kristian is going to add pace to our backline and he’s somebody who I have been monitoring over the last couple of years,” said Moors boss McDonald.
“This is an opportunity for him to jump up and play at Vanarama National League level. He’s had a great season at Stourbridge with their FA Cup run and he’s been a big part of that so it’s a great addition for us.
“To be fair to him, he jumped at the chance to join us because it’s sometimes difficult to leave a club that are doing well and he wants to take this opportunity that we’ve presented him with both hands. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Solihull-born Sammons is a well known name to most non-league football observers having enjoyed spells at Hereford United, Worcester City, Redditch United, Corby Town and more recently Hednesford Town.
The former England Under-17 international started his career at Birmingham City where, having captained them to the FA Youth Cup semi-final in 2009, he made his first-team bow in the League Cup in September 2009.
The 25-year-old has developed a reputation for being a goal-scoring midfielder and the former Langley School pupil again links up with McDonald, a manager who Sammons has previously claimed gets the best out of him.
McDonald added: “Ash has so much technical ability and he’s naturally gifted. He is something we haven’t got at the minute and that is a goal scoring midfielder. He gets into double figures most seasons and I’m confident he can do the same for us.
“He’s a Solihull lad so he’s playing for his hometown club and he’s excited to get started. Over the previous seasons I’ve worked with him, he’s put in over 20 goals which is phenomenal for a midfielder.
“Ash is the fourth player to join us from Hednesford (behind George Carline, Calum Flanagan and Simeon Maye) and they’re all players that are good enough for this level.
“It’s good to see that the lads that have been with us for a few weeks now are starting to enjoy their football again and I know it will be the same for Ash.”
Green and Sammons have been allocated squad numbers 12 and 7 respectively and both players made their debut in the 0-0 draw against Boreham Wood on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Moors have confirmed defensive duo Jordan Fagbola and Curtis Obeng have both left the club.
