By Peter McKinney

BROMSGROVE Rovers are closing in on signing Welsh goal ace Steve Rodgers.

Manager Jimmy Mullen and his assistant Bernard Mackey are set to speak with the 26-year-old hitman this week.

Rodgers was top scorer for Welsh Premier League side Welshpool, scoring 18 goals last season.

Mullen, who still has many connections in Wales after managing Newport Town, approached Rodgers several months ago.

However, the deal is at a crucial stage in negotiations, with Rovers chairman Tom Herbert unlikely to be willing to pay Rodgers the £150 per week he gets in Wales.

Mackey was up-beat that the club and the player could come to an agreement.

He said: "Money is the stumbling block. Steve gets a lot at Welshpool and we are on a budget.

"But Jimmy and I are pushing the chairman on this.

"He's played at a decent standard and scores goals

"It's all about ambition, if we want to go up we need to improve the quality of players we bring in."

While playing for Welshpool Rodgers actually lives in Shrewsbury, so travelling to games is not expected to be a problem.

The striker's signing would also be a relief for fans who saw last season's top scorer, Paul Szewczyk, leave for Hednesford Town to play in the Nationwide Conference North last week.

Rovers' management duo are also expecting to speak to Hinckley United midfielder Chris Smith and striker Wayne Dyer.

Dyer, who is also a full international for Montserrat, joined Hinckley from Sutton Coldfield Town in 2002.

Rovers are interested in bringing in Hednesford Town goalkeeper Paul Evans to fill the hole left by Matt Lowe and Ian Gandy.

Fan favourite Steve Frost has teamed up with former Rovers manager Gary Hackett at Stourbridge after he left the club.

Frost decided to leave his hometown club after Mullen was unable to guarantee the versatile player first team football next season.

Mackey said: "Steve wanted to play all the time, but that was not possible.

"It was his choice to leave, but he goes with our blessing."

Frost has been a useful servant over the seasons for Rovers. He fell out of favour when Mullen came in, but won his place back in the side as midfield enforcer after scoring several crucial goals.

Otherwise no other players have left Rovers.

Mackey said: "The only players we have let go are the ones that want to go."

l Rovers has announced a ground share with West Bromwich Albion Ladies next season.

The ladies will play their fixtures in the West Midlands Regional League on Sunday afternoons.

The team originally played at Oldbury Town, but was forced to look for a new venue.

Herbert said: "This is about helping West Bromwich Ladies out. The club also gets some much needed revenue."

Ron Mellor has been promoted to general manager at the club and has been charged by the chairman to look after the reserve and youth team players.