Dave Challinor isn’t necessarily anticipating January offers for much-vaunted striker Danny Rowe – but insists any bid would not derail AFC Fylde‘s promotion charge.
The Coasters boss won his battle to keep his top stars at Mill Farm in the summer as he plans a second successive play-off challenge.
Last year, the club rejected a £175,000 bid from League Two Cheltenham Town for the 28-year-old, who followed up his 52-goal season in the National League North winning side of 2016-17 with another 25 in his first top-flight season where he helped the Coasters reach the play-off elimination stage.
Now Rowe is back on the radar with another 12 goals in the league, leaving Challinor hoping that the January transfer window passes without any further interest.
“It’s important for us to keep our top players,” the Coasters chief said.
“Danny is ambitious and wants to give it a go in the Football League, and there has been interest, but it would have to be the right deal for the football club and for Danny himself.
“To be honest, I don’t envisage loads of interest in January. Not many clubs are paying big transfer fees for players of Danny’s age in January, it would be seen as something of a risk.
“We have an option on his contract which, in essence, means he has 18 months left at the football club. We too have our own agenda and Danny understands it’s a business decision too and he wants to be a part of the club’s ambition to move forward.
“In a way, it’s good that Danny is in the spotlight, it shows that both he and the league and heading in the right direction.”