Rebels swoop for quartet

Stuart Brennan

12/ 9/2008

FC UNITED have snapped up four new players on the eve of their FA Cup first round qualifying tie at Nantwich.

The Rebels have stiffened their defence by signing full backs Danny Warrender and Simon Garner, and left-sided midfielder/defender Alex Skidmore, all of whom are eligible to play at the Weaver Stadium tomorrow.

But former Gambia under-20 international striker Kebba Bah will not play unless the club receive international clearance.

Manager Karl Marginson had warned he was running out of patience with his stuttering defence after they conceded four goals in defeat by bottom club Prescot Cables on Tuesday.

Danny Allen and Shaun Roscoe have left the club, joining the growing band of FC exiles at New Mills, while striker Nick Robinson has been told he can also go.

Warrender, a right back, is a former Manchester City youth team player who played 17 first team games for Blackpool on loan in 2005-06.

When a permanent deal fell through and he was released by City, he tumbled down the pyramid to play for Rossendale before having a season with San Francisco Seals in the lower reaches of the US leagues.

Garner, not to be confused with the former Blackburn player, is a United-supporting left back who has played for Stalybridge and Fleetwood, and was released by the Fylde coast side this week.

Skidmore is a utility player who came through the youth ranks at Blackburn before joining Rochdale, and has been signed after impressing during a three-week trial.

Bah is the intriguing one, having played at the 2007 World Under-20 Championships. He was snapped up after being recommended by staff at The Manchester College, where Marginson is a coach.

But Marginson is rushing into nothing, saying: "Bearing in mind what happened to Wimbledon and others in the recent past we are awaiting confirmation of his international clearance before he can be selected. Kebba is a highly versatile player who can play anywhere and I am looking forward to working with him."