Old favourites to come back Shock double transfer swoop sees Cairns and Holt return
RUNCORN Town pulled off a double-transfer shock this week by announcing the return of former favourites Craig Cairns and Joe Holt from City of Liverpool.
Cairns and Holt were surprise departures last summer and helped the Purps win promotion to the Evo-Stik West with the forward ending the campaign as their top scorer.
Midfielder Holt made 49 appearances and scored four goals but both have opted to return to the Viridor under Paul McManus as they bid for a second promotion in as many seasons.
“I am delighted to be back and I cannot wait to get going again really,” Holt said after signing.
“There are a lot of lads still at the club from my first two seasons here, and having being around them during pre-season training so far, it feels like I haven’t left in a way.
“There is that same buzz around the place.
“It was a very difficult decision to leave City of Liverpool but I had to do what was right for me.
“After speaking to Macca it was a no brainer for me to come back here. It’s a great club and the supporters and committee make it feel like one big family.
“Hopefully we will be able to compete at the top of the league once again as well as challenging for the cups.”
Cairns, whose record in a Runcorn shirt stands at 96 goals in just 83 games, spent two seasons at the club before joining City of Liverpool last year.
Speaking of his own return he
● Striker Craig Cairns and (inset) midfielder Joe Holt have signed up to return to Runcorn Town added: “It was not an easy decision to leave City of Liverpool.
“It’s a great club with great people and big ambitions, even more so now with stepping up to the Evo-Stik League.
“However I need to do what is practical for me and the family and that is remaining local each weekend.
“Having said that though I am absolutely delighted to be back at Runcorn Town.
“I have already seen the committee members at the club, and being amongst the lads at training I know that choosing Runcorn was the right decision.
“Macca has outlined his aims for the season, which is obviously to finish in the top three given the increased promotion spaces.
“With the lads he has managed to retain and the way he wants to play football this season, there is no reason why we cannot achieve this. Hopefully I can make it two league titles on the run!” ● Dale Jennings has committed his future to Runcorn Town ahead of the new season and admitted the club’s ambition helped secure his signature.
The former Tranmere Rovers and Bayern Munich forward arrived at Town under Chris Herbert last season in a surprise move and scored seven goals in all competitions.
He did, however, struggle with injuries but returned for the latter end of the campaign and impressed in his performances.
“I have opted to stay at Runcorn Town as the club has big ambitions for the forthcoming season that I would like to help them realise,” Jennings said.
“With retaining most of the players from last season, and the quality additions that Macca has added, I think it is going to be a great season for us.
“I have had offers from other clubs but it would have to be the right move if I went elsewhere.
“It’s important that I enjoy my football which I do here at Runcorn with the lads in the squad.
“The supporters have welcomed me and my family to the club and showed me a lot of love and support.
“They would like to see the club promoted as well as the players, and with three promotion places this year, I would like to be a part of helping the club do that.”
Manager McManus, taking charge of his first full campaign this summer, added: “Dale staying feels every bit as good as a new signing.
“We saw glimpses of his quality last season, however this season we shall see week-in, week-out what he is all about.
“He has had his operation now, he is working hard on his fitness and he looks sharp in the preseason sessions we have had so far.
“If he can maintain things the way he has, then I have no doubt that he can become the best player in the North West Counties League Premier Division.” ● NICK Ryan became Michael Ellison’s third summer signing at Runcorn Linnets this week.
The 25-year-old has been out of football since April 2018 after a horrific leg break suffered for Witton Albion at Marine.
Ryan had recently returned from a broken jaw at the time of the injury following his move to Albion in the summer of 2017.
The talented defender’s impact, however, led supporters to create a crowdfunding page for their stricken star while team-mates offered money raised for an end-of-season holiday.
With his recovery almost complete, Ryan joins fellow centre-back Louis Coyne from Prescot Cables at Linnets as well as striker Jamie Rainford, formerly of Ramsbottom United.
“Nick is a top-class centre half and a great signing for us,” manager Ellison said.
“After an awful injury, which sidelined him last season he’s looking to get back playing and back to the level he was at.
““We will give him the platform to do that. He had a lot of clubs chasing his signature I’m delighted he chose us.
“I’d like to thank Witton’s manager Carl Macauley for facilitating the signing.
“For my part, if Nick wanted to go back to Witton at any point, we would obviously not stand in his way.”
Ryan and Coyne have immediately offset the blow of losing last season’s player of the year Aaron Morris to FC United of Manchester.
The bulk of Ellison’s squad from last season have committed their future to Linnets for the new campaign.
Freddie Potter, Louis Corrigan, Bobby Evans, Zac Aley, Ronnie McCarthy, Paul Shanley, Ryan Gibson, Michael Simpson, Peter Wylie and Ally Brown have renewed terms as well as club captain Kyle Hamid.
Linnets will be hoping to go one better next term after agonisingly missing out on the Evo-Stik West play-off places on goal difference last term.