Kelly heading back to Rye

Although he hasn’t yet put pen to paper with the Quarterboys, Kelly has told Sidley United manager John Lambert that he is moving to The Salts.

Lambert said: “He said he wants to go to Rye because he wants to win things. I pointed out that Rye didn’t win anything last year, and with Steve (Morris) and Lewis (Hole) on board, I think we’ve got a good chance ourselves of winning something this year, but he wasn’t going to buy that.”

Kelly, or Irish as he is known to most in the local football community, established himself at senior level with Rye during the 2008/09 season, even winning the captain’s armband.

He made a dramatic move to Sidley in autumn 2009 and skippered the Blues to promotion from Division Two of the Sussex County League the following May (Sidley finished third, with Rye champions).

Having previously been a solid figure in defence, Kelly was a powerful presence in midfield as Sidley finished 13th in Division One last term with some onlookers believing he could go on to a higher level.

Rye manager Scott Price said: “A bit like Sam (Adams, who has now signed for Rye after it was revealed last week he would be leaving Hastings United), he wants to compete and challenge for something.”

All the latest news from Rye and Sidley will appear in tomorrow’s Observers.