Hamlet won't be pushed on star

Ryman League Premier Division newcomers Dulwich Hamlet have revealed they are resigned to eventually losing teenage star Xavier Vidal but insist he'll only go in a deal that is right for the player and club.

The Champion Hill teenager, 18, had a trial spell with Bolton Wanderers last season and they are one of a number of Championship sides expressing an interest in the midfielder's services.

Dulwich have produced a string of youngsters in recent years who've made the jump into the Football League and manager Gavin Rose believes it is only a matter of time before Vidal, pictured being congratulated after scoring, also flys the nest.

Vidal made more than 30 appearances for the Ryman South champions last season and Rose told the South London Press: "Xavier will move eventually. There has been a lot of interest and we are weighing up, with the squad that we have got, whether we can afford to let him go before the season starts or would we need him as part of our team and squad until January or next summer.

"When he was at Bolton he was still in our youth team but trained with their U21 squad which was quite a mature group - going into that at 17 he was good enough technically but not physically. Bolton have said they'd like to have him back.

"What we don't want is Xavier to be training here, there and everywhere. We have to think about his career and not just let him go for the sake of it. I've spoken to my management team and the owners, just in terms of what our best team is if he does go and what we have got behind, can we cope?

"It's about the best scenario for us and for Xavier. He is going to get better and stronger because he is on the upward curve."

Image courtesy of the Croydon Guardian