PICKERING TOWN boss Tony Hackworth believes his side will get the benefits of a match-fit Matty Turnbull should the centre-half link up with the club next term.

The Recreation Ground chief put in a seven-day notice of approach for the Selby Town skipper but Turnbull has decided to remain at Flaxley Road until the end of the season.

He has told Hackworth he will put pen to paper with Pickering for the new campaign and is set to be the first new arrival as Hackworth looks to build a squad capable of challenging the upper echelons of the Northern Counties East League premier division.

“I think a few sides came in for him,” said the Pikes manager.

“He will be loyal to Selby until the end of the season. He has agreed to come to us for next season.

I have got a lot of respect for him.

“He had a bad injury and Selby gave him his chance. He’s played every game and done really well.

He’s got himself match fit and will come to us on the back of a good season. It’s a big boost for us.”

On his rebuilding plans for the club, who are without a game this weekend, Hackworth added he had already been hard at work.

He said: “I have had the feelers out already on the lads I want for next season. A lot of it will come down to budgets.”

Selby Town chief Dave Ricardo, whose side host Teversal in NCEL division one, said he had yet to be informed of Turnbull’s intentions next season.

“We have got him until the end of the season. We have been giving him game time. Let’s have the discussions then,” he said.

“On Teversal, it should be three points. We struggled to get a team out when we played them earlier in the season.

“If we do as well as we did against Hallam then we should win. We’ve got a good team spirit and I am pleased with the way things are going. I have got a full squad to select from.”

Knaresborough Town go to AFC Mansfield in NCEL division one, and Harrogate Railway travel to Mossley in Evo-Stik League division one north. Scarborough Athletic entertain Salford City in the same division.

Harrogate Town host Lowestoft Town in Conference North.