Shakers to sign Lenny

He may have been rejected by Lincoln, but Lenell John-Lewis’ Football League career looks to be have been rescued by Bury who are set to offer the mis-firing striker a deal at Gigg Lane.

The 21-year-old has spent the summer on trial with the Shakers and despite Bury already possessing three decent frontmen on their books in Andy Bishop, Ryan Lowe and Danny Carlton, he has done enough to impress manager Alan Knill enough to earn a deal, probably for the next 12 months.

‘We like Lenny,’ admitted Knill. ‘He is only 21, but he is powerful and strong, and we have seen enough of him in training to know we want to work with him.

‘He can play anywhere along the front line. He played against us for Lincoln and he caused us a lot of problems. I have always liked him.’

Meanwhile, never before has the fans’ rant ‘we pay your wages’ ever held more meaning then at Mansfield, after a supporters group – the 12th Stag – donated £3,000 towards the salary of former Imp Paul Connor, who has signed for the Field Mill outfit.

The striker, who endured a torrid, injury-hit campaign at Sincil Bank, had been training with Kidderminster for most of the summer, but has now joined David Holdsworth’s side after the Harriers opted not to offer him a deal.

‘It’s great that the 12th Stag have helped contribute to bring players in,’ Connor told Mansfield’s official website. ‘It’s fantastic work from everyone involved and it’s nice to think that the fans want you here.’

Elsewhere, rumours that another CIty player released at the end of the season, Sam Clucas, has joined the Glenn Hoddle Soccer Academy in Spain are wide of the mark after a spokesman confirmed that the reports were unfounded.