Striker target

Photo: ROB LOCK

GOAL-GETTER . . . Danny Rowe scored 50 goals in all competitions last season.

ATHLETIC tried to get prolific non-league striker Danny Rowe on board - but the AFC Fylde man has signed a new contract with the ambitious non-league club.

The Chronicle understands that a £50,000 offer was rejected by the Vanarama National League new boys.

And the 27-year-old forward - who scored 50 in all competitions last season to become the country's leading marksman - has penned a new two-year deal with the Coasters.

COMPRISED

Athletic's offer to hand Sky Bet League One football to Rowe - a former Manchester United youngster who has also played for Lincoln City - was understood to have comprised £25,000 up front, with another £25,000 to come in the event of promotion.

It was turned down by AFC Fylde, a full-time outfit and one of the non-league scene's wealthier clubs thanks to the backing of chairman David Haythornthwaite.

But the unsuccessful bid shows intent on Athletic's behalf to land another striker in order to improve on last season's paltry goals return.

While defensively rock-solid - champions Sheffield United conceded more than Athletic's 44 goals - the total of only 31 scored in 46 league games is a problem Sheridan wants to address.

To that end he has already added creative midfielder Dan Gardner and Craig Davies has come back to the club, but another forward to complement Tope Obadeyi, Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Darius Osei is a priority.

Rowe had been linked with Preston, Wigan, Rotherham, Bolton, Shrewsbury and Walsall back in January.

Meanwhile, Athletic have escaped being wound up for the third time in the High Court in London after paying an undisclosed tax debt yesterday.

Registrar Sally Barber dismissed the petition after being told the debt had been paid.

Athletic also faced a winding up petition back in June last year and May this year over other undisclosed tax debts. They were also dismissed after they paid the debt in full.

FORMER Athletic defender Charles Dunne has signed for Motherwell on a one-year deal.

DEFENDER

The left-sided defender, who played 16 times for Athletic last season before being struck down with a pelvic injury at Sheffield United on Boxing Day is reunited with former manager Stephen Robinson at Fir Park.

Right-back Josh Law, released by Athletic at the end of last season, has signed for Vanarama National League North outfit York City.