TWTD understands that Town sent chief scout Steve McCall to watch Brantham Athletic striker Ollie Mann in action in a friendly for Dagenham and Redbridge’s reserves yesterday. Leyton Orient and a number of other clubs were also represented.
Mann, who scored and is understood to have impressed, was part of a side made up of trialists and youth players facing a team from the Spain-based Glenn Hoddle Academy, which is currently playing a number of friendlies in the UK.
A fortnight ago, TWTD reported that Town had watched Mann as he netted a hat-trick in his side’s final-day-of-the-season 6-2 Ridgeons League Premier Division thrashing of Newmarket Town. The Daggers, Orient and Southend had all previously been checking out the 21-year-old, who scored 41 league goals this season.
Dagenham and Redbridge boss John Still has so far been the manager to show the most interest and Mann has been training with the Essex club, which was relegated to League Two on Saturday, and they may well be ready to offer him a contract.
Mann, who scored 44 goals in Brantham’s Ridgeons League First Division promotion season last year, missed the first nine games of this campaign through illness and injury but has ended it only one goal away from breaking the Ridgeons League Premier Division goals record of 42.
The Lawford-based building apprentice has a year left on his Brantham contract with the Imps denying reports that they have put a £20,000 price on his head.