Signing shows Needham's intent

Mike Bacon

NEEDHAM Market general manager Mark Morsley says his club's signing of former Norwich City and Southend United keeper Danny Gay, makes a statement to non-league football.

The 27-year-old keeper, freed from his contract at King's Lynn after they folded two weeks ago, is the new custodian at Bloomfields, as Needham Market head into 2010 in confident mood.

Ahead of today's massive Ridgeons League Premier Division clash with fellow high-flyers Leiston, Morsley spoke about Gay's arrival.

“Danny became available and of course there is no doubting his ability.

“He's a winner, has a great presence and the key to success at a club is having players who have won things.

“I like to think we are making a bit of a statement to non-league football in general that we are a progressive club.

“Danny is with us until the end of the season and then we will sit down and see what we can do regarding next season.

“The lad has come to us, taking a pay cut, but he liked what he saw when he came to look round and that says much about the club.”

Gay made his debut for Needham in Monday's 4-2 victory at Walsham.

His pedigree is not in question and although he was with Norwich City for two seasons, he never played a first-team game.

After moving to Southend United in 2001, he made 11 appearances for the Shrimpers in League Two, before embarking on a successful non-league career.

That so far has included spells at Hornchurch, Braintree, Bishop's Stortford, Heybridge, King's Lynn and Chelmsford City.

However for former Needham No.1, Liam Jones, it spells the end, for now at least, of his reign with the Suffolk club.

He has been made available for transfer or loan.

“Of course it has been difficult for us to tell Liam the situation,” Morsley added.

“He's a lovely lad and has been at the club a long time. But it's my job - with others - to take this club forward. And the signing of Danny Gay is just that.”