Football: Leek flier McCarthy ponders an Airbus exit

POPULAR Jimmy McCarthy is set to turn out for Leek Town tomorrow – possibly for the last time.

Blues have accepted an offer from League of Wales club Airbus Broughton for the mercurial McCarthy, although head of management Lee Casswell is not convinced he will go.

Casswell explained: "Jimmy has yet to accept personal terms and my gut feeling is he will be with us.

"The impression Jimmy has given me is that he will definitely play against Grantham, so if there are to be any developments they won't be until next week."

McCarthy has aroused the interest of other clubs, even though he has not been at his scoring best.

The last of his 14 goals was in the home defeat by Market Drayton two months ago, although he has not been short of opportunities.

Casswell added: "Even in our 7-1 defeat at Carlton last week Jimmy made and missed four opportunities.

"There have been games in which he has missed so often he has apologised to us, but there is no doubt he needs a goal."

However, McCarthy will be a key figure in Leek's attempts to bounce back from the catastrophe at Carlton by beating leaders Grantham.

Casswell said: "We have not dwelled on that game. It was one of those days.

"We had a good session on the artificial surface at Westwood College, where we had a game with Ball Haye Green. Everyone is in the frame."

Players such as Tim Grice, Christian Millar and Ollie Edwards will press their claims, but Dan Cope will have another game with Alsager Town.

Anthony Danylyk (knee) may face a fitness test, and Cresswell added: "It is a good game to see what we are made of after last week and we will expect a reaction."

KIDSGROVE manager Peter Ward is frustrated by not having Danny Griggs available on a regular basis.

The former Nantwich star struggles for midweek away games due to work commitments, denying Grove one of their key players.

Ward said: "Danny is a tricky footballer who has done well for us.

"When he came off the bench last week against Stamford he made a real difference."

Griggs's rocket shot won Grove the game 3-2 in the last minute.

"It was a magnificent goal, worthy of winning any game," said Ward, "but it is frustrating we have to be without him when we travel away on a Tuesday.

"It is not down to Danny. He works as a tiler and his boss won't let him off until 5pm, so he has no chance of making games of any distance."

Griggs made his name with Nantwich, scoring more than 100 goals for the Dabbers and helping them win the FA Vase in 2006.

He then had a spell with Congleton before joining Kidsgrove this season.

Ward said: "We played Nantwich in a pre-season friendly, and Danny did so well they put in seven days' notice of approach for him, which annoyed me.

"Fortunately for us he decided to stay."

Kidsgrove, with one defeat in eight games, travel to Lincoln United tomorrow with Griggs on board. Ross Davidson returns.