Hammers swoop for Yeltz forward (From Dudley News)

Hammers swoop for Yeltz forward

9:00pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Football

CRADLEY Town boss Adrian Mander believes he has successfully snared Nathan Jones — at the second time of asking.

The Halesowen Town forward has been a long-time target of the Hammers boss and was close to swapping the Grove for Beeches View Avenue in January.

This time Mander is convinced he has got his man.

He said: “We put seven days in for him and he came and spoke to us the other night.

“I think he is a little disillusioned at Halesowen and he is definitely going to play for us this season.

“He has gone on holiday now but said he would be coming to us when he returns. “All we can do is take his word for it.”

Jones played for the Yeltz in their 4-2 friendly defeat to Wolverhampton Casuals on Saturday — the same opponents awaiting Cradley this Saturday in their West Midlands Premier Division opener.

Casuals are many pundits tip for the title after a summer spending spree which included the capture of former Stourbridge and Leamington hitman Mark Bellingham.

Mander believes his side could not be facing a tougher start but has also been busy himself this summer.

Karl Gardner (Dudley Town) and Richard Robinson (Coleshill) were the only two big departures, while the manager has drafted in the likes of Jermaine Hilton and Sean Westley.

Mander, who took over at the club four games into the last campaign, is looking forward to his first full season in charge.

He added: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s all down to us this season.

“I think we will be up there. We definitely have the personnel to do it.

“The game on Saturday will show us straight away just where we stand in relation to one of the favourites.”

Halesowen Town don’t start their Northern League campaign until August 18 and are without a game this weekend..