News

Last season's 28 goal top scorer was being tracked by a number of clubs including Hednesford Town but has decided his immediate future lies at the Moat Ground after agreeing a new season long deal.

Rovers manager Gary Norton couldn't hide his delight at the news and commented: "It's been a nervous few weeks as we waited for Aaron to decide what he was going to do next season. It's a huge, huge boost for the Club and understandably everyone connected with the Club is delighted with the news. I'm especially pleased for our supporters as they have developed a real rapport with him. It's been a number of years since Gresley Rovers have had a player of Aaron s' calibre who is capable of scoring 20+ goals a season and to lose him to another club after just one season with us would have been a great disappointment. His 28 goals last season by no means guarantee's how he will fare next season but he is very level headed and thinks he has even more to offer. He has a great attitude towards the game, is great to work with, and wants to work hard and improve himself further over the coming season. To say I'm ecstatic would be an understatement.

"The question of Aaron staying has been the first question on the lips of all players and supporters I've been speaking to lately and that indicates what an important player he is to us and how well thought of he is by everyone. To have the opportunity to work with him for another season is brilliant and if he has another campaign as good as the last one then the sky really will be the limit for him. It's frightening when you consider that he isn't the finished article yet and in Mick Curry and Raffa Long we have two quality top coaches at the club who will help him develop his game even further."

On signing his new deal with the Club, last season's top scorer commented: "Its been a tough few weeks making my final decision but now I have I can't wait for next season to begin. I've had some good offers to move but at the end of the day I felt as though I owed the Club another season for everything they have done for me last season. The Chairman, Gaffer, supporters and the rest of the lads have been brilliant to me since I've been here and after the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs last year I want to stay and try to help us achieve something next season. For me personally last season was my best ever and I want to make sure that next season is as good if not better."

The Club has revealed how other members of the squad joined the battle to keep Aaron O'Connor at the Club, with several of them contacting him over the weekend hoping to help convince the striker to commit to the Club for the forthcoming season.

Andy Simpson said: "A few of us felt that we should throw our support behind the Club and chat to Aaron about his options, he had a fantastic season and was sure he could do so again - who knows what doors that could open at some point in the future, he has started something with Gresley Rovers and I think its great that he is looking to build on it, Matt (Smith), Emeka (Ejiofor), Paul (Edwards) and some of the other lads all spoken with him after the Gaffer and Chairman last spoke with him - its great news."
Chairman Mark Evans said he was "over the moon" - "I am delighted for everyone connect with the Club, and am really looking forward to seeing Aaron and the rest of the squad building on the progress we made last season"

In other news midfielder Micky Lyons has had his plaster removed from the foot injury he sustained during the last game of the season at AFC Telford. Norton said: "Micky is unable to kick a ball for 5 weeks but is able to resume light training and should be in decent shape when we return for the start of our preseason July 2nd. We will keep him out of any contact stuff for a couple of weeks then see how things are after that."