City manager Tony Hesketh said 6ft 5ins centre half Ian Flannery was expected to put pen to paper on a deal this weekend.

Warrington-born Flannery, 23, has spent the last two seasons with Clitheroe.

"He is very quick for a boy of his height and will hopefully be commanding in both penalty areas for us," Hesketh said.
"He has been tracked by a number of clubs this close season but he had a desire to play for Lancaster.

"He will be a big player for us and supplement an already very strong defensive unit where there's competition for places."
Eagle-eyed Dolly Blues fans who have spotted former Morecambe striker Justin Jackson around the city this week have also had their suspicions confirmed by Hesketh.

"I have made contact with Justin Jackson and he is keen to come and do pre-season with us with a view to securing a deal," he said.

"He's a player of fine quality, a rare talent, and if we can sort out a deal I will be delighted."

Jackson, 34, has been playing for Southern League Premier Division side Brackley Town since July 2007.

Earlier in his career he enjoyed spells with Halifax Town and Morecambe, where he was the Conference top scorer with 29 league goals in 38 appearances in 1999/2000.

He later joined Rushden & Diamonds for £180,000, a record transfer fee between two non-league clubs.

Pre-season, which began yesterday, Thursday, could see further changes at Giant Axe.

"I am very happy with the rest of the squad, apart from a bit of fine tuning here and there," Hesketh said. "But pre-season normally brings one or two surprises and I wouldn't say this is the final squad that will start our season.

"There may still be player movement both in and out; we will see how the players settle down in pre-season."

Meanwhile, one of City's younger players has been invited to Stuttgart for a trial.

Myerscough College pupil Alex Kenyon, 16, flies to Germany next week.
The left back spent several years at Everton before being released last year.

"It's a fantastic honour for the boy and we wish him well," Hesketh said.

"He's a quality player and Stuttgart are keen to have a look at him."

* A friendly match against Peel United on July 10 has been cancelled. Hesketh hopes to arrange a further two friendlies for August

* LANCASTER Football Club's youth team will be holding a fundraising event at the Dolly Blue Tavern on Thursday, July 2 and will be an Evening of Mediumship.

It starts at 7.30-10.30pm and will be £5 on the door.

All proceeds will be donated and the night will include a grand raffle and auction with prizes including: two Camelot passes, two family passes to Megazone, £50 canoeing lesson for two, £50 Simply Bathroom vouchers, two Vue Cinema tickets, Apollo Cinema tickets, Superbowl tickets, Butterfly House tickets, litre and half bottle of vodka and whisky, signed Lancaster football shirt.

* MORECAMBE Youth Under 12s are starting pre-season training on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

Any pupils who are starting Year 7 High School who would like to join in, please contact Ron or Jackie Crinion on 413923.

All training will be taken by level one coaches.