Spartans cup hero wants Latics place

HOST OF ADMIRERS: Jarrett Rivers (right) has been the subject of a several inquiries.

ATHLETIC are running the rule over Blyth Spartans' FA Cup hero Jarrett Rivers, the club has confirmed.

The 21 year old made headlines earlier this season by scoring the 90th-minute winner for the Northern Premier League minnows in a first-round victory at Hartlepool. That was the last game in charge of Pools for ex-Athletic first-team coach Paul Murray.

Rivers – who works a shift every day at his mum's newsagents in Spennymoor – impressed Athletic manager Lee Johnson with glimpses of his talent during yesterday's training session.

The winger will be out to do likewise today as he bids to win a contract at the club, which last season took his Blyth colleague Dan Maguire on trial.

“We had seen him play in the FA Cup game and we also spoke to a couple of people about him as well as having a look at some video,” said Johnson. “There are quite a few clubs interested, so we jumped on it and we are having a look at him for the next couple of days.”

Rivers came through the youth ranks at Middlesbrough and signed for Blyth last summer: “It's a great opportunity for Jarrett to make an impression,” said Spartans boss Tom Wade.

“He has been great for us this season and it shows how far we have come that young lads are getting noticed.

“There are a lot of other clubs interested in signing him. In all honesty the phone hasn't stopped ringing. We hope it works out for him.”