Crawley sign Blackpool striker Clarke
phen Bywater.Pictures:Bill Johnson. Blackpool v Sheffield wednesday (FA CUP). Billy Clarke can't believe his first half effort was saved by Keeper Steven Bywater.
CRAWLEY Town have snapped up Blackpool striker Billy Clarke, winning the race against League 1 and Championship clubs.
Clarke, 24, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal, and Reds manager Steve Evans admits the deal was a difficult one to pull off.
“Several times last night and this morning I thought we had lost out on signing the lad but I never gave up on him and thankfully I have managed to persuade him to join us,” Evans said.
“We have signed a really talented player and for us to have beaten off some of the other clubs who made offers to sign him speaks volumes for what we are trying to achieve.
“He was outstanding on loan at Sheffield United recently and we made our move then more in hope than anything else, but we have surprised ourselves and have got him now. It really is a wonderful signing and when I told our players he had joined us they all had the biggest smiles on their faces and commented on what a great addition he was.”
Clarke has scored once in 13 appearances for the Tangerines, but was unable to make a single appearance during their Premier League campaign last season due to injured knee ligaments suffered in a pre-season friendly.
Clarke was successful on loan at Sheffield Utd before Christmas, where he scored once in five appearances, but has been back in cold since returning to Bloomfield Road.
He said: “ The manager has been brilliant and he is a huge reason why I have come here.
“I had a number of offers from League 1 and one from a Championship club but I always came back to thinking this was the club for me.”
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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