TONY Stokes has made it clear he wants to stay and help Concord rejuvenate their season following interest from higher league Chelmsford City.

Although there has been no official approach, the in-form striker said Clarets boss Glenn Pennyfather has made it clear through a mutual friend that he would be a welcome addition at the Melbourne Stadium.

But Stokes says that despite the interest from the Conference South heavyweights, he wants to stay and help the Beachboys turn around their poor start to their Ryman Premier season.

He said: “Chelmsford are a good club and they always seem to be in the hunt for the play-offs every season.

“And in the future you never know what can happen because hopefully I can do well here and possibly move to a club in a higher division.

“But I’ve never been the type of player to just jump ship for money.

“And the two Dannys [managers Cowley and Scopes] and Ant [Smith, the chairman] at Concord have helped me so much and I want to repay that.

“They were so supportive when I came back from overseas, and when I had my injury at the start of this season when I missed eight games.

“But since coming back I have scored 10 goals in 13 games, and now I want to work towards my target of 30 and help Concord have a great end to the season.”

Concord travelled to Chelmsford City last night for an Essex Senior Cup game in a match which took place after the Echo went to press.

>BILLERICAY will look to consolidate their place at the top of the Ryman Premier table this evening when they go to sixth-place Cray Wanderers.

Town were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Maidenhead United on Saturday, but they have been in stunning league form with their last defeat in the division coming in late August at Lewes.

And SOUTHEND MANOR will hope to make up some ground on their title rivals when they host Eton Manor in the Essex Senior League. Manor start the evening in fourth and six points off the top, but they have at least three games in hand of the top three.