Harrogate Town's biggest ever signing is ready to make his debut in tonight's opening pre-season friendly when Bradford City travel to Wetherby Road.

Hot shot striker Lee Morris was signed this week for a 'substantial' four-figure sum from Frickley Athletic after beating off rival bids from Barrow, Stalybridge, Ashton and Alfreton.

Manager John Reed is delighted the move has come off. He said: "It's very exciting for the club.

"We beat off a host of clubs for his signature for a club record transfer fee, which is closer to £10,000 than the other end of the four-figure spectrum.

"It all happened very quickly. I had been tracking him for a couple of years and then I spotted in a non-league paper that he had been transfer-listed and we put in a bid like a number of other clubs, but we must have made the biggest because he came to us.

"He scored 27 goals last year and with a better calibre of player around him we are sure he will do very well this season.

"He's a guy who has always given us trouble when he's played against us, so we know the kind of lad he is."

But Morris is not the only addition to the team as they prepare for their first ever season in the new Nationwide North.

Reed added: "We identified at the back end of last year that we wanted to improve in a couple of positions.

"When I looked at the team I thought we could improve the spine of the team. From goalkeeper, through the centre of defence and midfield to centre forward were the areas I thought I wanted to focus on, and we have brought in some really good players."

Former Leeds United and England youth international Paul Pettinger has been installed as the new custodian, while the colossal Shaun Garnett, formerly of Oldham Athletic and Morecambe, among others, has been drafted in as a player coach.

Other back room changes have seen Mark Atkins promoted to assistant manager and head coach, while Ian Marshall has returned to the club as goalkeeping coach.

Said Reed: "We started back in training in June and it has been brilliant. We have had lots of new ideas from Shaun Garnett and Ian Marshall and everyone is really fit.

"We are delighted to have set up the game against Bradford City's first team, and we are hoping for a nice crowd.

"It's the first rung on the ladder for us with our first game against Barrow on August 14 going to be huge."

Harrogate's opponents, Bradford City, yesterday agreed to extend their wage deferral until July 16 in an attempt to prolong the debt-ridden club, who have been teetering on the brink of extinction for several months.

Talks are also ongoing with ex-chairman Gordon Gibb, who owns the Valley Parade ground, to get him to drop the £300,000 annual rent bill.

Administrators recently warned the club would go bankrupt if the charge was not waived.

Gibb has now entered into negotiations and could regain control of the club if a deal on the ground is accepted.

Updated: 08:00 Friday, July 09, 2004