PLAYER NEWS | Umerah joins Hartlepool for undisclosed fee

Wealdstone striker Josh Umerah has joined EFL League Two side Hartlepool United for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year old striker scored 17 goals in 45 appearances for the Stones last season and has attracted interest from EFL clubs for the duration of the summer with the club turning down three previous bids.

Stones chairman Rory Fitzgerald had this to say following the strikers departure, "When it became clear Josh would not extend his stay beyond the end of next season, the board felt it was its duty to the club and the fans to obtain the best possible fee for a player we did not want to lose - and we feel we've done that.

"We will never stand in the way of a player and his aspirations to play at the highest level possible and we wish Josh all the best on his move back to the Football League and thank him for his goals last season.

"While we very much understand as a part-time club we will always have to sell our best players, any wantaway player will largely leave on our terms and in no way does any player departure detract from our desire to continue to establish ourselves as a National League club.

"Money from the sale of Josh will be reinvested in the playing budget and we will back our recruitment strategy to unearth the next one and or use the loan market to ensure Stuart has the necessary firepower in attack this season."