Purkiss on Kelly’s radar

Defender Ben Purkiss is a former team-mate of Athletic manager Darren Kelly.

BEN Purkiss is one of a number of right-backs Athletic are keeping tabs on, says manager Darren Kelly.

The new manager has stressed he is looking for quality players next season despite Athletic’s tight budget.

Former Walsall defender Purkiss (31) is a free agent and contact has already been made with the former colleague of both Kelly and his assistant Dean Holden.

But Purkiss is one option: Kelly is reluctant to jump into a fluctuating player market this early.

”I know Ben and he is on the radar,” Kelly told the Chronicle. “But a lot of right-backs are. I have seen where I am going for York players: that’s not the case. I want the message to go out that my standards are high.”

One player who won’t be coming back to Athletic for next season is Luke Woodland. Recently called up by the Phillipines for international duty, the midfield man grew into his role after arriving on loan from Bolton near the end of last season.

But Kelly wants to put his main resources elsewhere, with a new centre-back and centre-forward among the priorities.

He says he is wary of pursuing targets keener on money than ambition on the field: “We brought in Lee Croft, who is a great signing. But I am trying to get as much budget as I can in key areas to take us forward. Chatting to players, they are throwing telephone numbers at me. But I am in no rush.

“Maybe it’s wrong but I want it to be about the players being ambitious. Come here talking money and to me that’s a weakness of mind. People have families and I get that. But if someone I am talking to is totally money-oriented, that worries me. You need that desire to succeed.

“When you stop playing, people don’t ask how much money you made in the game. They will ask you what you won.”

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_