KEEPING STAR REES IS NET GAIN FOR MICHAEL

UPBEAT Merthyr Town boss Paul Michael says keeping hold of star striker Ricardo Rees is ‘better than any new signing we could get’.

- John Lyons

The 24-year-old finished top scorer in Southern Premier South with a whopping 36 goals last term as the Martyrs missed out on the play-offs by a single point. It meant there was always going to be interest in Rees, but he has decided to stay put and continue to play under his former Yate Town boss Michael.

“It’s unbelievable,” the 38-year-old Martyrs chief told The NLP. “He guarantees goals and that’s the most difficult thing to come by – and costs the most.

“But he also gives us so much more – he runs the furthest and fastest, he’s adored by the supporters and really popular with his teammates. His decision to stay has helped us keep everyone else together.