NO HESITATION TO COME BAKK

Scott’s aiming for Albion retribution

SCOTT BAKKOR has thought, at times, about a return that might never happen.

And even if he wanted to forget, Carl Macauley’s persistence prevented it.

It paid off too, because the forward has agreed to sign again for Witton Albion six years after he departed.

“I’m grown up, a lot, since then,” said the 26-year-old. “Tell them I’ve calmed down too.”

The attacker, who has played for the past two seasons at Northern Premier League top-flight rivals Stalybridge Celtic, doesn’t need to make amends.

But that won’t stop him trying to.

He joined the Northwich club, based a short drive from his Warrington home, after they paid a four-figure transfer fee to Clitheroe in December 2013.

A talented, if erratic, teenager, he contributed six goals to help them beat the drop.

Childish

And a swift start to the following season, when he scored in each of the first two games, was disrupted when Brian Pritchard – the manager that brought him to Wincham Park – resigned unexpectedly in August. The turbulence that followed affected Bakkor, and he was listed for transfer two months later as punishment for what Witton described at the time as ‘several breaches of club discipline.’

He left without appearing again.

“I was a bit childish, petulant too,” reflected the striker.“I wanted them to stick by me because I loved playing there. It was a long time ago, and I’m more mature now.”

Stops at Skelmersdale, Clitheroe, again, Colwyn Bay and Warrington followed before a switch to Bower Fold in the summer of 2018.

And no matter what colours he wore, he performed impressively against Albion almost every time.

It’s one of the reasons Macauley – the longest-serving boss in the Premier Division and about to embark on his fifth full campaign in charge – has repeatedly sought to bring him back.

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Bakkor said. “A player always wants to do well against his old club, and I guess I just felt comfortable in familiar surroundings.

“It’s true I’ve spoken to Witton a couple of times, and the manager was the first to contact me after last season ended.

“That says a lot about what he thinks about me, and it’s the right moment for both of us.

Mistakes

“I don’t feel I’ve a point to prove, so let’s call it unfinished business.”

It was a priority for Albion to bolster an attack that was goal-shy last term, mustering only 40 in 31 NPL Premier Division games as Witton tailed home in 14th place.

Bakkor, who broke a record for the swiftest hattrick scored during the first half-century of the Northern Premier League after striking three times in nine minutes for Skem against Kendal two years ago, will be cast in a leading role to improve on that statistic.

Macauley said: “I warned Scott I wouldn’t give up, not least because I was sick of him being brilliant against us!

“He’s a player that can change a game in the blink of an eye, something we’ve lacked.

“Not once did he mention the past during our negotiations, and he won’t be the first lad to make mistakes when he was younger.

“That doesn’t make him a bad person.”