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20th November 2003
Redditch to get ‘big’ lift from Francis

Giant former Birmingham City striker Kevin Francis could be poised to become Redditch United's 'biggest' weapon in the Dr Martens League Western Division championship race.

Redditch boss Rod Brown has confirmed that the giant 6' 7" striker is training at The Valley Stadium after revealing he was in the hunt to sign a big name.

Francis who has had spells with Blues, Derby County and Stockport, certainly fits the bill but Brown insists that the big man will have to win his fitness battle first before potentially making him a valuable addition to the Reds' squad.

The 35-year-old, who once played for Redditch as a youngster, left Dr Martens Premier Division outfit Hednesford Town during the summer after failing to recover from a knee injury. He has since been working hard to regain his fitness and has linked up with the table-topping Reds through ex-Hednesford man and close friend Matt Gardiner.

Brown said: "He's training with us at the moment and has shown great interest in the club. But at the moment, the main focus is on getting him fit and we'll then see where we go from there.

"I have to say he's a mile away at the moment and certainly no deal will be done before he can prove his fitness.

"But what I will say is that if he can do that, nobody would be able to touch him at this level. His experience and talent make him a class apart."

Francis cost Birmingham £800,000 when he signed from Stockport County in 1995 and he went on to make more than 50 appearances at St Andrew's before moving to Oxford United three years later. His twelve-year professional career has also seen him in an Exeter and Hull City shirt with the last two seasons spent at Hednesford.

"He's a lovely guy to have around," added Brown. "He's played for a lot of big clubs but he's certainly not a prima donna."

Busst bags Hammett

Dave Busst, the recently installed manager of Dr Martens League Western Division club Evesham United, has swooped to sign another forward.

Andy Hammett, who has been training with Nationwide League Third Division side Bristol Rovers, joins the Robins and will be included in the squad to face Shepshed Dynamo at Common Road in the Dr Martens Western Division on Saturday.

Hammett's former clubs include Merthyr Tydfil and Newport County.

Meanwhile Busst is set for a busy round of transfer talks and has seven-day approaches in for no less than seven players, which are due for clearance towards the end of the week.

Source: www.nonleaguedaily.com

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