MIDDLEWICH Town manger Dave Twite has swooped to sign former Northwich Vics boss Mark Gardiner.

Gardiner, 34, quit as manager of UniBond Premier Leek Town last week after having his budget cut and played for Nantwich Town on Saturday.

After arranging a player exchange deal which took Mike Woodray and Barry Crellin to Leek, Twite has gone straight for the man who was dismissed from Vics in October.

Gardiner may make his debut in the Mid Cheshire League match at Knutsford on Saturday (2.15pm).

"I asked him to come down and play," said Twite. "He has signed so if we can get him in midfield it will be a bonus."

Twite is still refusing to rule out his team's chances of going for the Mid Cheshire League title despite a 3-0 defeat at home to leaders and champions Barnton on Saturday.

"There's 16 games to go and it''s still all to play for if we get our confidence back," Twite added.

"I'm taking positives from the Barnton game because we were 100 per cent better than against Padgate the week before. If we'd played like that on Saturday it would have been 10-0.

"We've been playing a very naive game and we need to get some experience in there."

Twite should also be helped in this department by the return of Andy Taylor, and even if Gardiner doesn't turn out got Town, his departure from Leek could lead to a return form Woodray.

Two more forwards will also be add to Town's firepower this week, as Twite eyes an even bigger name in the world of football.

Wesley Brown could be putting pen to paper at Seddon Street by the end of the week - but not the Manchester United defender, a striker from Stafford. Justin Fraser, formerly of Stafford Rangers, may also join in time to face Knutsford.