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.

Photo: Action Images

harlingblue added 01:32 - May 13 Get him in, he's becoming a fans favourite...get his fitness levels up, but don't take away his natural talent of scoring goals.
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james1989 added 09:20 - May 13 wow its wierd seeing that when hes my mate, welll done son!! decent player at lower level thats see if you can step up to the mark
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Zakk added 09:49 - May 13 SIGN HIM
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Surco72 added 10:14 - May 13 No different to Charlie Austin playing low league football and scoring goals for fun a few years back and then commanding big fees ,definately worth a punt and couldnt do any worse than the big money strikers we have signed recently
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BigShow32 added 13:27 - May 13 I've seen him play, and although I'm not suggesting he'd be the 25 goal a season man we need, it's got to be worth a shot. £20k to sign him, stick him on £500 a week for 2 years and see what happens. Maybe loan him out to League One or Two until Christmas and see how he does. That'd be a total investment of £72k. I bet we paid a hell of allot more to have Dyer here for one month. I'd much rather see us taking a risk on a young non-league player with a hunger to prove himself than taking a risk on an old injury prone premier league player that is just doing for the money.

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churchmans added 13:44 - May 15 20k yeah bwoy deffinately! pay em grand a week aint nothin! if he come good result if not move along
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