Chelmsford City manager Mark Hawkes has invited former Heybridge Swifts defender Taylor Hastings to pre-season training – but insists there is no deal on the table as yet.
Swifts – Hawkes' former club – announced Hastings' departure last week, saying that the 22-year-old "has offers on the table" from the Clarets and Ryman League Premier Division side Enfield Town.
But Hawkes insists he is merely giving Hastings the chance to try and win a contract at Melbourne Park when pre-season training begins.
"What people have got to understand is that I've given Taylor Hastings the opportunity to come to pre-season training," Hawkes said. "He is a good footballer, but there's no deal on the table for him.
"I've given him that opportunity to come in for pre-season and see what that does for him.
"If he wants to take that up then fine, but if he wants to sort himself out a club and a deal before the season starts, then it's not going to be with Chelmsford City."
Hawkes is happy with the way his squad is shaping up and is working on a few more deals which he hopes to tie up before pre-season starts, but a number of other players will also be given the chance to show they can step up to Conference South level.
He added: "I've got nine people coming on that basis, to earn a deal.
"When you haven't played that level you have to firstly make sure you can, the fitness and sharpness levels are different.
"From the manager's point of view I have to make sure that lads like Taylor come in and train and are able to play at that level. There's no deal on the table, but the opportunity is there for him."
