No more burgers for Town's new goal king Nadesan who is eyeing promotion

Fleetwood's new 99-goal non-league hotshot Ashley Nadesan is hoping to fire Town to the Championship.
Fleetwood Town's new signing Ashley NadesanFleetwood Town's new signing Ashley Nadesan
Fleetwood Town's new signing Ashley Nadesan

McDonald’s supervisor Nadesan, 21, quit his job at the fast food outlet in Surrey to sign his first professional contract at Town yesterday.

His scintillating strikerate of 99 goals for Surrey-based Combined Counties Premier Division side Horley Town in just two campaigns earned him a three-year deal with Steven Pressley’s League One side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He had trials at Town’s fellow League One outfit Millwall and Premier League side Norwich last month and was reportedly being tracked by Premier League champions Leicester City and Bournemouth.

Nadesan’s mum runs a bed and breakfast in Blackpool and Town hope he can follow in the prolific footsteps of former Fleetwood hitman and Leicester title-winner Jamie Vardy.

But the striker says he does not want to be the next Vardy.

Instead he wants to be “the first Ashley Nadesan”, and the striker is eager to score even more goals after making the leap up to the Football League.

He said: “Hopefully I can help kick-start a promotion push for Fleetwood, bag myself a couple of goals and see where it goes from there.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Jamie Vardy is an inspiration, especially with what he has done. People are trying to compare me to him but I don’t want to put that pressure on myself.

“I’d rather not be the next Jamie Vardy but the first Ashley Nadesan.

“Hopefully I can score goals and my pace through on goal has been decent over the last couple of seasons. I’m buzzing.

“After all the speculation of where I was going, I am so happy that I have finally signed a contract.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I first heard of the interest (from Fleetwood) maybe a couple of months ago, and then it spiralled and people started talking.

“Suddenly an offer just came in and it was quality. I had to accept it because Fleetwood are such a quality team.

“I’m so happy. Fleetwood is a top-quality club and I literally could not turn down the opportunity.

“They have opened up a new (£8.5m) training facility (Poolfoot Farm in Thornton) as well and I just can’t wait until the season to start playing football again.”