Ellison – Start well and enjoy
MICHAEL ELLISON has told his Runcorn Linnets side to enjoy their time in the Evo-Stik League West Division next season.
Linnets romped home to the Hallmark Security League Premier Division title last season and have since secured most of their key players to new deals at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Ellison, however, admits there has been some summer “flirting” with potential additions to his squad. “We’ve had targets,” he said. “We wanted to replace the lads we lost and I had five or six targets. We’ve got a few of them in.
“You’re talking to lads in a couple of leagues above and nobody wants to commit early.
“A lot of players like to see how it’s looking elsewhere.
“There’s a lot of flirting going on – which I don’t like!
“But we’re back in training now and we still have lads returning from holiday. We have had some new faces at the start of pre-season but soon enough we should be looking like our full strength. “I’ve got no doubt we’ll be OK.” The manager will lead Linnets in their maiden Evo-Stik League campaign and has also urged his players to savour the experience.
“A lot of the lads have already played Evo-Stik,” Ellison added.
“I have done myself a few years ago, as have our backroom staff.
“There are a few new teams we don’t know much about but we’re confident.
“I think it’s important to start well and enjoy it.
“We worked really hard last year to win the league so it’s really important to enjoy it. There’s no massive expectations.
“We know what we want and we’ll see where we end up.” ● Adam Gilchrist signs on the dotted line for Runcorn Linnets’ club secretary, Tracy Measor.
Elsewhere at the club, Linnets announced the signing of centreforward Adam Gilchrist from FC United of Manchester on Tuesday night.
Gilchrist, 28, is the brother of Southport goal-poacher Jason, who was the leading marksman in the Conference North last season after notching 21 goals.
Adam had appeared in several friendlies for Linnets this summer on trialist terms, featuring in the loss to Ashton United and goalless draw against Rhyl last Saturday afternoon.
He has signed dual-registration terms with Linnets.
The striker joined FC United last Christmas and made his debut for the club on New Year’s Day. He made five more appear- ances in the Conference North, scoring his one and only goal in the 1-0 win over Hyde United in the Manchester Premier Cup.
He has also turned out for Radcliffe FC, St Helens Town, Marine, Ashton Athletic and Burscough.
As well as being able to feature across the attack, the player is also a qualified UEFA B license coach.
Linnets registered their first win of pre-season on Tuesday night with a thrilling victory over City of Liverpool FC.
A hat-trick from Freddie Potter gave Michael Ellison’s men a much-needed confidence boost after they allowed a two-goal lead to slip away in the second period.
Potter was on hand to notch a late third, however, with Linnets facing their first competitive game of the season against Widnes FC in The Reusch Champions Cup Final on Saturday.
The Champions Cup is contested between the Hallmark Security Premier League champions and Macron Cup winners.
Linnets will have home advantage for the game which kicks-off at 3pm.
Ellison’s men then entertain Witton Albion in their final warm-up game of the summer a week on Saturday – August 4 – before travelling to Hallam FC in the FA Cup extra-preliminary round on Sunday, August 12.
They then open their maiden Evo-Stik League West campaign with a trip to Droylsden six days later.