Luton have beaten off competition from several League clubs to sign Amari Morgan-Smith, believed by many to be the hottest property in non-league football.
The prolific striker from Ilkeston Town goes straight into the squad for tonight’s home match against Mansfield. More to follow..
Luton had offered £15000 for the player with Ilkeston Town in severe financial difficulties but their Chairman, Gary Hodder, said that AMS did not want to join Luton. AMS has since denied this and said that he would have been pleased to sign and help the club raise some money for the tax man who eventually caused the winding up of the football club over unpaid tax of about £50K. It is believed that the Chairman wanted £50K for the player to wipe out the tax debt, but Luton would not pay it.
Manager Richard Money has said that he tried to sign the player for ‘ fee’ on the last day of the transfer window at the time of Tom Craddock’s departure.
Ironically, because Ilkeston Town were would up, their players became free agents, and Luton were able to sign him without a fee and outside the transfer window. Despite interest from League clubs, the 21 yr-old striker showed a maturity beyond his years when saying he could have joined Football League clubs for less money only to sit in their reserves so saw Luton, with their ambition of regaining League status as the best option for his own development as a player. Good decision young man.
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