8:55am Monday 15th June 2009
By John Boyman
BASINGSTOKE Town manager Frank Gray has beaten clubs from a higher level to sign ex-Reading forward Jahson Downes.
The 18-year-old, who was released by the Championship club at the end of last season, had been courted by clubs further up the football ladder but decided to join Town to get a better chance of first team football.
“A few clubs were interested in him and he spoke to a couple at a higher level but he wanted assurances that he would get a chance, which he certainly will here,” Gray said. “All he wants is to play regularly.”
Downes showed great potential during a loan spell at Bognor last season, scoring seven goals in 18 appearances for the Rocks, who were relegated at the end of the campaign. He caused Basingstoke’s defence no end of problems with his pace and skill at Nywood Lane in February and poached Bognor’s opening goal from close range, though Town went on to win 3-2.
Gray is delighted with his new signing, who has put pen to paper on a one-year deal, and says that his ability to play in a number of positions will be a valuable asset.
“I am really pleased he has signed and think he has got a lot of potential,” the Town manager said. “He proved that he can score goals and cause problems at Bognor last year so I hope he will be a good acquisition.
“He can play anywhere in the front line, which means that we can adapt to different situations. We are looking for players who can play in a few positions and he could play behind the front man in a 4-5-1 formation, out wide or as a striker. He gives us options.”
Gray also got some bad news this week as midfielder Jerome Maledon left the club to return to Woking, but the Basingstoke boss has already lined up potential replacements, who he hopes to sign in the near future.
“We have known that Jerome leaving was on the cards for some time and have been looking at other options,” Gray said. “We hope one or two of those will come to fruition in the next week or so.
“We just need a bit of competition in midfield. If we use Jahson up front we would only have Tom Williamson, Ian Jones and Jide Ogunbote. Sean Hankin can also play in there but we just need another body.”
Gray is also keen to strengthen in other areas and is hoping to be busy in the transfer market over the coming weeks.
“A couple more players might come in over the next couple of weeks,” he said. “We are looking at the right back area and will have to wait and see with the goalkeepers.”
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