Tigers pounced after a deal at Trinity fell apart

Midfielder Shane Clarke was all set to sign on for a third season at Gainsborough Trinity, before the deal broke down and Tigers nipped in to bag his signature.
Gainsborough Trinity FC v Worksop Town FC.  Pictured is Shane Clarke and Matt Young  (w120806-3c)Gainsborough Trinity FC v Worksop Town FC.  Pictured is Shane Clarke and Matt Young  (w120806-3c)
Gainsborough Trinity FC v Worksop Town FC. Pictured is Shane Clarke and Matt Young (w120806-3c)

Speaking to the Worksop Guardian, the 25-year-old explained how he ended up agreeing to join Mark Shaw’s Worksop Town.

“I was negotiating a deal with Gainsborough, we agreed terms, but then 45 minutes later I got a call saying they needed to go for other targets, and weren’t sure what sort of money was available,” he said.

“I loved my time there, but unforunately the chairman left and things had to change.”

When Gainsborough withdrew the offer Clarke had accepted, in came Shaw and the rest is history.

Clarke added: “I wanted to be at a club where I was valued, and Worksop seemed really keen to have me.”

“Mark wants to get a team together that plays good football and will hopefully be a bit of a dark horse in the league.”

“With the strike force they had last season, keeping them means there’s always potential.”

The pre-season is often a time when supporters are fed lines about players only wanting to join one club, but Clarke is refreshingly honest about his feelings on moving to a lower league to sign for Tigers.

“Personally, I didn’t want to drop down a league,” he admitted.

“But I’ve played with the likes of Leon Mettam before and I know what he’s capable of.”

“He’s the kind of striker that could help get Worksop out of this division.”

“I want to be playing for one of the better teams in the league.”

Now that his immediate future is settled, the former Lincoln City man is raring to get back in action, having missed the end of Trinity’s 2012/13 season through injury.

He said: “I dislocated my collar bone towards the end of the season, so I can’t wait to get going again.”

“I just want to get back kicking a ball.”

“I’m all ready to go, I’ve been doing strengthening work with a physio and everything is ready.”

For Worksop Town fans unfamiliar with their new midfielder’s style, Clarke described what he hopes to bring to Sandy Lane next term.

“I’m predominantly a box to box centre-midfielder,” he said.

“I like to get forward and cause problems for the opposition centre-midfielders, but I’m happy to do the defensive side of it as well.”

Clarke is a product ofLincoln City’s centre of excellence, and counts Boston United and Gateshead in his former clubs.