Former Crewe Alexandra star AJ Leitch-Smith played and scored for Nantwich Town in their latest pre-season match away at Colwyn Bay.
AJ, who also played for Crewe’s rivals Port Vale, is seeking a new club and approached the Dabbers for much-needed game time.
But Nantwich Town spokesman confirmed today there’s little chance of them pulling off one of the signings of recent years!
The 28-year-old, who was born in Crewe, enjoyed a decent season on loan at Dundee in the Scottish Premier League in 2017-18, but was released by parent club Shrewsbury Town over the summer.
A Nantwich Town spokesman said: “Yes, AJ played for us but there’s little chance of him signing permanently – it’s so he can get game time ahead of the new season.
“He was released by Shrewsbury in the summer, so the hope is he’ll get picked up at L2/National League level.”
AJ spent six years with Crewe as a product of their heralded Academy, playing with the likes of Nick Powell, Ashley Westwood and Luke Murphy, and winning the League Two play-offs in 2012 and the Football League Trophy in 2013.
After a season at Yeovil, he moved to Port Vale in July 2015 and finished as Port Vale’s top scorer in 2015-16 season before joining Shrewsbury Town in June 2016.
Smith opened the scoring for Nantwich Town, who won their pre-season encounter at Colwyn Bay 3-2 yesterday (July 28).
He powered home a header from a fine Charlie Edge cross early on.
Nantwich made it 2-0 soon after through a Joel Stair header from Aaron Knight’s cross.
Smith made way at the break as another former Crewe favourite Steve Jones came on, with fellow subs Clayton McDonald, Adam freeland, and Joe Malkin.
The hosts pulled a goal back when a cross was deflected in, before Joe Malkin restored the two-goal cushion from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box.
Will Jaaskelainen saved a penalty in the final minute, but Colwyn scored from the rebound to make it 3-2 final score.
Nantwich have three more pre-season games lined up before the Evo-Stik Premier League kicks off on Saturday August 18.
They travel to Winsford United on Tuesday July 31, then away at Radcliffe FC on Saturday August 4 and away again on August 11 at Leek Town.
More details visit www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk
(Pic by Jonesy702 under creative commons licence)
Why play someone who is never going to play for the club? How does this help Nantwich?