Russell shock for Chadderton

CHADDERTON have been rocked by the departure of 21-goal leading scorer Matty Russell.

The North-West Counties League First Division side wass handed seven days’ notice of approach by Premier Division Glossop North End and Evo-Stik Division One North outfit New Mills. Russell decided to move to the latter.

Russell left with joint-manager Mark Cook’s blessing: “I was surprised about New Mills because the first approach came from Glossop. But good luck to him.

“It’s been a major blow for us, but when you’ve got someone playing as well as he has at a club like ours, there’s always a chance something like this will happen.

“You never know, he’s a local lad so he could well end up returning one day. I wouldn’t rule that out.”

Former Mossley and Curzon Ashton player Russell has been nominated once and has won the First Division Player of the Month award once so far this season, in December.