PROLIFIC striker Connor Collins and proven stopper Chris Jay have become Bromsgrove Sporting’s latest recruits as they aim to get their promotion bid back on track.
Collins, who netted 44 times in 39 games for Fairfield Villa last season, has joined from Halesowen Town, while the Rouslers have also snapped up experienced Tividale goalkeeper Jay.
The double swoop comes after Sporting suffered their worst away defeat in their history as Midland Football League Division One rivals Leicester Road ran out 5-1 winners.
And manager Paul Smith believes the signings of Collins and Jay have given his side a ‘massive’ boost ahead of their trip to Atherstone Town tomorrow (Saturday).
“They are two great signings for the club,” he said. “They have been playing in levels above which is very important and both of them will play big parts in the remainder of the season.
“Chris Jay was Tividale’s number one and was in goal for Coleshill last season when they came runners up and he got player of the year, but he has become available and we have managed to sign him.
“We have also signed Connor Collins who is an outstanding young striker. I spoke to him in the summer, but fair play to him he went higher to try and chance his arm at Halesowen.
“Although he scored the winner in the FA Cup last week, he hasn’t had the chances he wanted there.
“But I’ve told him ‘sometimes you have got to take a step back to take two steps forward’ and we need to give him regular football again, get that smile back on his face and scoring some goals.”
Jay is set to be handed the number one shirt for tomorrow’s clash while Collins is also expected to line up against Atherstone at Sheepy Road. And Smith said he hopes to see a reaction from his players after their heavy loss to Leicester Road.
“We have got to get a response,” he said. “We had a similar situation when we lost at home to Hinckley in the FA Cup and then put five past Pilkington and won four on the bounce.
“But it’s important you don’t go overboard with defeats. Yes we lost, but it was our first league defeat of the season and we held that unbeaten record longer than anybody else.
“So now it is important we regroup, play well and cut out any individual errors. If we do that, the quality within the squad can go and win games of football again.”
