BRADFORD Town manager Danny Greaves says the club have been given a boost ahead of their rearranged FA Vase fourth round on the Isle of Wight, with striker Karim Rendall pledging his allegiance to the Trowbridge Road club.

The striker was subject to a seven-day approach from local rivals and fellow Toolstation League Premier Division side Melksham Town, but has opted to remain with the Bobcats.

With a total of seven goals to his name already, Greaves says it is a sign of the club’s progress that the frontman has remained - despite the overtures of Melksham, who booked their own place in the last 16 of the Vase with a 2-1 win over Crowborough Athletic on Saturday.

“We got the approach for Karim last week, so obviously we were a little bit nervous that we could lose a good player,” he said.

“He contributes a lot in terms of the number of assists he provides and his work rate. It would have been a big loss for us, so it is a really big boost for the club.

“I also think it is a positive for the club and myself. Previously, if we were competing for players we would probably have missed out.

“We lost Sam Jordan at the start of last season and I think it is another sign that we are moving in the right direction because we are able to keep hold of these players.

“We may not have the resources, the finances and the infrastructure of some of these clubs, but it shows we have something going for us.

“He (Rendall) joined me when I first started at the beginning of last season, so I think it is a sign of loyalty to the club and myself personally.”

The club were due to travel down to the Isle of Wight to face Newport (IW) in the fourth round of the FA Vase, but due to the weather, that game was rearranged for this Saturday.

With 80 fans expected to make the trip, Greaves says it has been a nightmare logistically, but in terms of the game itself, the break could turn out to be a blessing.

“In terms of the planning side of things, it has been a bit of a nightmare with the coach and the ferry,” added the manager, whose side face a lengthy trip to either Redcar outfit Marske United or Leicestershire side Hinckley on February 3 if they get past Newport.

“From a playing point of view, we had a lot of games over Christmas so it has given us another week to recover.

“Hopefully we can go out and perform, it will be a tough game but we want to get to the next round.”