Dryden beaten to punch on Birley (From Worcester News)

Dryden beaten to punch on Birley

4:00pm Sunday 21st June 2009

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WORCESTER City boss Richard Dryden has been beaten to the signature of Worcester-based midfielder Matt Birley by his former Tamworth colleague Carl Heggs.

The former Redditch United player-coach, who is now in charge at Unibond Premier outfit King’s Lynn, snapped up the ex-Birmingham City trainee who was at Bromsgrove Rovers last season.

With the St George’s Lane chief on holiday last week, Heggs, who was with the Lambs in the 2005-06 campaign with Dryden, was able to persuade the 22-year-old to leave the Midlands and tie up with the Norfolk club.

Birley, who also had a spell at Tamworth, was being chased by Blue Square North outfit Solihull Moors too.

Worcester assistant-manager Carl Heeley said a fortnight ago that the Lane side had made offers to two unnamed targets, with the club concentrating on the midfield area.

The loss of this local player to a side in a lower league will be a huge blow for City as they look to build their side for the new campaign.

“He had Worcester and Solihull Moors both interested, but he can get his career back on track at an ambitious club that is going places,” Heggs said, who also has former Aston Villa striker Julian Joachim in his squad.

“Matty has a great pedigree but, when you are released as a 20 or 21-year-old, it does come as a major shock. You start to question whether you have a future in the game or whether you should jack it in and get a job.

“He had to dust himself down and come again.

“On reflection, Bromsgrove was probably the wrong move for him, but he is a quality lad who can play anywhere across midfield — so we haven’t just signed one player.”

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