Lewes FC boss: Star's suitors are wasting their time

Aaron Cosgrave scores from the spot as Merstham are beaten / Picture: James Boyes

The Lewes boss revealed a number of teams have made seven-day approaches for a player whose goalscoring form has been key to an upturn in the Rooks’ fortunes.

But he said he had an agreement with Cosgrave that he would leave The Dripping Pan only if a club from a higher level came calling and the move was right for the 21-year-old.

Cosgrave has scored four league goals already this season and got the winner from a penalty he won himself at home to Merstham on Tuesday night.

That victory made it seven points from three games for Langton’s team, who have moved up to 16th in the table after a shaky start to the campaign.

Langton said: “I’ve a strong relationship with Aaron going back to our time at Welling. He’s improved under my guidance and he knows how much I believe in him.

“I felt we might lose him in the summer but he told me he wanted to stay with Lewes and play regular football. On occasions, whoever we play, within a couple of hours of the final whistle, puts in a seven-day approach for him.

“They can do that if they want to but he will not leave Lewes unless he is moving up a level. He’s a top player who is destined to have a good career but now he is our player and we will make the most of his talent.”

Langton was delighted by a second successive 1-0 home win in midweek, although he said the Rooks could easily have been celebrating a six-point week.

They drew 1-1 at Potters Bar on Saturday after taking the lead and Langton said: “We should have had the game sewn up by half-time but didn’t take our chances, then the only ball they put across our box resulted in a goal.

“That was disappointing but the players have been brilliant. After we won 1-0 again on Tuesday someone asked if we were turning into George Graham’s Arsenal. I’ll very happy if we do!”

Langton and his coaches have worked hard on the team’s defending from crosses and he said it was paying off.

The Rooks have no league game on Saturday but visit SCFL side Little Common in the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday night.