'Gazza' makes Black his first signing

PAUL GASCOIGNE has made a Guernseyman his first signing as a football manager. Ryan-Zico Black, who appeared for Guernsey at the Shetland Island Games, has moved from Lancaster City to fellow Conference North side Kettering Town on a two-year full-time professional contract and already made two first-team appearances from the bench.

The controversial Gascoigne welcomed Black by saying he 'would be a fantastic addition to the squad'.

'We are delighted to have secured Ryan and he is a player we have tracked for the past few weeks.

'He is a versatile player who can score goals from midfield and up front. He will be a great asset,' the former England star told the club website.

Black, who was on a one-year deal at Lancaster, has missed much of this season through injury, but still managed to score four times in six games.

He is looking forward to the promotion candidates becoming a full-time outfit in January.

'Kettering is a big club in non-league. Everything about the club is very professional,' he said yesterday.

Black explained the background to the switch.

'I'd heard they had been tracking me for four or five weeks and they were down here when we were playing Northwich Victoria.

'They had one bid turned down and came back with another,' he said.

Neither Black or the club would disclose the fee involved.

In his first 10 days at Kettering the Guernseyman has come off the bench twice in three games, but a hamstring injury has prevented him from so far experiencing training under Gascoigne and former Arsenal star, Paul Davis.

'I'm just sort of settling down at the moment. Last week was a mad week.

Kettering lie fifth in the Conference North table, nine points behind leaders Northwich. Lancaster lie 11th, six points behind Black's new club.