WITTON Albion have rebuffed a move from Sheffield United for winger Sean Whalley and from Southport for midfielder Steve Connors.
And they have made a signing themselves, taking midfielder Mike Bowler on loan from Stock-port County for a month.
Meanwhile, Albion have extended the loan deal with Crewe for 11-goal striker Adam Warlow to cover the whole season.
Whalley is training full time with Crewe Alex and Albion boss Jim Vince wants him to stay there.
'Sheffield wanted to take Sean for trials and a lot of clubs are interested in him.
'I have to look after his interests and advise him on what he should be doing and the best place for him right now is Crewe.
'If he is going to become a Football League player then he will at Crewe.'
Southport may return to Witton for Connors. Their initial enquiry did not offer the right platform for negotiations, said Vince, and the problems were not just over a valuation.
Whalley and Connors will be in the Witton line-up for their FA Cup 3rd qualifying round home tie, worth £5,000 to the winners, against Farsley Celtic on Saturday.
Alex Brown, meanwhile, has fully recovered from his foot injury and returned to midfield for last night's game against Moss-ley, but it is difficult to see how Vince can accommodate Brown, Connors and Bowler.
Since his loan spell at Witton last season, Bowler has made a handful of appearances for Stockport, but dropped out of the first team again. He is a hard tackler and Vince said: 'I felt I did not have enough options in the middle.'
Bowler has been cleared to play against Conference North Farsley and is pencilled in next Tuesday should a replay be necessary.
'We will have to play better against them that we did against Vauxhall,' said Vince.
Vince, assistant Benny Phillips and first-team players are running a five-day soccer school during the October half-term break for six- to 16-year-olds at a cost of £60. Further details and bookings can be made with Vince on 0774 836 7775. McDonald's and Sponsorlink are sponsors. nAlbion Juniors, meanwhile, are recruiting three-year-olds! Professional coach Chris Bateman is launching weekly sessions at Sir John Deane's College for under fours, fives (£11 a month) sixes and sevens (£15). He is available on 01704 211228 for bookings and details.
