REDDITCH United manager Gary Whild has been forced to look to the transfer market after defender Asa Charlton was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Valley Stadium boss had drafted in Simon Rea on a month's loan to cover for the former Stourport Swifts favourite but an operation on a niggling knee injury uncovered more than the player had bargained for.

Whild said: "Asa went in for an operation that looked to be quite straightforward but when they opened his knee up they found one or two other problems. It looks like he will be side-lined for the rest of the season."

Rea has impressed since taking over at the heart of the Reds' defence but the United boss is keen to find a more long-term solution.

And with that in mind he has made an approach for Willenhall Town defender Vaughan Thomas who first caught the eye while playing for Studley in the Midland Alliance.

"We have had good reports about Vaughan and he would certainly give us some physical presence at the back," Whild added.

Talks are on-going with Leamington striker Richard Adams but one player who has made the move to the Valley Stadium is Steve Palmer, an FA Trophy winner with Telford United.

Palmer had a season alongside Carl Palmer at Hednesford Town before switching to Hucknall Town at the start of the season. A change of manager at the Nottinghamshire club means the midfielder has been released from his contract and has agreed to a move to Redditch.

Whild added: "We are 70 per cent where we want to be. To go that extra way we need to bring in players to provide competition in certain areas.

"But it is important that we bring in the right sort of player to fit into what we have at Redditch United. Steve Palmer does that and he has played at a high level."

Palmer is set to feature in Saturday's clash with fellow strugglers Alfreton Town at the Valley Stadium but Whild is still to hear whether striker Jermaine Clarke can play after the FA launched an investigation into his contract problems with Evesham United.

"We are playing a waiting game at the moment," Whild said. "Evesham have sent a letter admitting it was their error so I hope something can be sorted shortly."