Michael Clegg says he isn’t surprised to see Warrington Rylands top goalscorer Adama Sidibeh attracting transfer interest.
The former Cheadle Heath Nomads attacker is subject to speculation over his future at Gorsey Lane after netting 15 goals, so far for the Blues.
Off The Park reported this week that Sidibeh has courted attention from professional and Football League clubs. Rylands, it is believed, have rejected three offers – including one from AFC Fylde – for the forward so far after the bids fell well below their valuation.
Rylands have a track record of off-loading players into the Football League with Elliott Nevitt sealing a move to Tranmere Rovers in 2021, before Callum Dolan followed the path by signing for Fleetwood Town.
Clegg was forced to rubbish claims made this week citing that Port Vale and Blackpool were among the outfits eyeing a move for the 25-year-old. Despite the mounting reports around the top goalscorer, the Rylands boss is relaxed about the situation and is surprised that more isn’t hasn’t emerged for the star performers in his squad.
“It’s not a surprise but I’m more surprised that it hasn’t happened to a few more of our lads,” he told Off The Park.
“We’ve got loads of lads who can play higher so it’s no surprise to me, the good thing for Adama, players a letting him play but then you look at Mo Touray, Dean Furman, James Neild, has there been a better right-back than Clive Smith this year? James Butler, Matty Regan, we’re strong so it comes as no surprise.
“A lad who is quick and scoring up top is always going to get interest, Adama is no different. At this level, if you’re scoring goals and you’re a name no ones heard of, you get interest straight away, you see his pace, work-rate, enthusiasm, his range of goals so he’s got a bit of everything.
“He’s still got loads to learn, he’ll have a good career, wherever that ends for him I don’t know, but we’re happy we’re on the journey with him.”
The festive period brought three points from a possible 12 as Rylands earned points against Atherton Collieries, Marine and Ashton United.
They remain in tow of league leaders Radcliffe but sit six points behind Boro, who have two games in hand. Dispute the run of four games without a win, Clegg insists there is no crisis but they have to get back to winning ways.
“We’re overachieving from where we wanted to be but after Radcliffe, it was such a tough run,” he added.
“The disappointing thing is Atherton Colls, we just didn’t play well, Marine first-half was really good – we were worthy of a point if not more – and Ashton we had a couple of stone-wall penalties turned down, we should’ve won the game.
“Against Macclesfield, we were really good but just got beat, we’re all buzzing and there’s no crisis but just had a tough run of fixtures.
“Coming out of that, we’ve played a lot of the top teams twice, we’ve had a tougher run than most, we’ve played well and just need to get on the other side of the wins. We’ve missed big chances in games so it’s more of the same, for us we’re going to carry on focusing on ourselves.
“We know where we want to be and what we can to be better but by the end of January, we’d have played the top teams twice so we’ve got a kinder run-in than most but it doesn’t matter who you play, you have to be up for it.
“We can match anyone on our day and if we make the playoffs, that’s what we want and are looking to do. The club wanted us to improve on last year, we’re doing that as it stands and I’m sure we can do that but the problem is there’s so many good sides, we have to focus one week and one game at a time. We went up there earlier in the season and won 3-1, when it was 1-1, it could’ve gone either way, it’s going to be tough. We need to get back to winning ways and hopefully that can be Saturday.”
[Featured image: Warrington Rylands – Mark Percy]
