Spalding agree deal for former Boston skipper Ross

COUP: Pat Rayment has verbally agreed a deal with Ian Ross.

Spalding United are closing on another incredible transfer coup after verbally agreeing a deal for ex-Boston United captain Ian Ross.

The 28-year-old midfielder shook hands on a one-year deal with the Tulips on Wednesday, having decided to leave York Street at the end of last season.

Ross is expected to sign the contract after he returns from a close-season break and would follow Julian Kelly, Kern Miller, James Cullingworth, Gareth Jellyman and Nick Conroy in moving to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.

Spalding supremo Pat Rayment admits that he is purring at the prospect of having Ross in tandem with midfielders Chris Hall, Lewis Webb and Lee Beeson next season.

“This could be another great coup for the club,” said Rayment. “To get a player of his quality to talk about coming here is absolutely incredible.

“He’s an absolute class act with the ball at his feet and our midfield with him would look formidable on paper.

“I spoke to (Boston United manager) Dennis Greene about a few players and he said to me ‘what about Ian Ross’. I didn’t think we had a chance, but things gathered pace and we’ve verbally agreed a deal.

“I was impressed, he’s certainly done his background checks on us. For him to have taken a good look at us and decide to he wants to come here shows how far we have come.

“If you’d have told me two years ago that we’d get the likes of Ian Ross, Julian Kelly and Gareth Jellyman to the club I’d have said I’ve got more chance of winning the lottery.

“Hopefully this shows people that we mean business. We’ve lost a lot of players, but the ones that have come in to replace them are improvements on those that have gone.”

Ross made 16 appearances an on-loan teenager for the Pilgrims in 2004, scooping a League Two Player of the Month award as scored four goals for the club.

He later featured for Bury, Notts County, Rotherham United, Alfreton Town, Gainsborough Trinity and Harrogate Town before returned to York Street in November 2011, going on to make 113 more appearances and scoring 12 further goals.

Meanwhile, Rayment also confirmed that Spalding are hoping to bring striker Jordan Thomas back to the club.

The pacy frontman was a bit hit during his loan spell from Lincoln City last season and Rayment is hoping to entice him back on a permanent basis.

Should he seal a deal for Thomas, the Tulips chief reckons he’s just one further signing away from completing his squad for next season.

Rayment added: “We’re hoping to agree something with Jordan. If he agrees to come back we’ll be almost good to go.

“If I can get all my business done in May I’ll be delighted!”

Spalding will play in Evo-Stik League First Division South next season after being promoted as UCL Premier Division champions.