Published on Wed Jan 26 09:36:41 GMT 2011
BOSTON United have issued a hands off warning to rival clubs thinking they could prise away Shaun Pearson – by slapping a £100,000 price tag on the defender.
The Pilgrims’ Blue Square Bet North rivals Alfreton Town sent a scout to watch United’s 1-1 draw with Guiseley on Saturday.
And with the Reds losing central defender Aden Flint to League One Swindon Town, the United camp fear their promotion rivals may be looking to fill their void by recruiting Pearson.
Flint was sold for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £150,000, which means Alfreton have money to spend.
However, Boston manager Rob Scott was quick to warn his rivals that Pearson is going nowhere.
He told The Standard: “Scouts come to every game, so until we get word from anyone we won’t even think about it.
“We want him here. If someone offers £100,000 for him then that’s suddenly a different matter and the chairman will have to think about that.
“But we want Shaun here. He’s a part of this team.”
Twenty-year-old Pearson is the only member of the United squad that club chairman David Newton paid a fee for, believed to be around £5,000, after he bought him out of his AFC Stamford contract in the summer of 2009.
He made an instant impact in his debut season, scoring nine goals as Boston United earned promotion to the Blue Square Bet North via the UniBond Premier play-offs.
He also scooped five of the club’s Player of the Year awards at the end of his first campaign.
Tough-tackling Pearson has also bagged five goals this season, as the Pilgrims aim for back-to-back promotions.
Scott has also warned his defender that moving to big-spending Alfreton may improve his bank balance, but it may not help his career.
“Shaun would be silly to go to any other club at this level,” Scott added.
“He’s a player that wants to learn and wants to improve, and he’s at a club that’s coaching him.
“If he wants to move anywhere then he should be moving up to a club at higher level.
“He’s also under contract until the end of the season, so if anyone wants him they’ll have to wait until then.”
