NEILL Hardy has decided that happiness in his football career means more to him, at the moment, than money, so he will be cracking in the goals for Radcliffe Borough again when the new season kicks off in two months time.

Hardy was disappointed when Boro offered him less cash for next season than he was on last term, but he has had a think about things and decided to stay at Stainton Park, despite interest from one or two other clubs.

In fact, 29-year-old Hardy turned down Altrincham and didn't even bother speaking to the other interested parties.

"Radcliffe didn't offer me a better deal than they already had done and the difference between what Altrincham and Radcliffe were offering me was pennies, so I have decided to stay here and I'm looking forward to next season with the Boro.

" I know everybody here and they know me. There's the new dressing rooms to look forward to, Bernard is a great chairman and there is always something going on. To be honest, I was a bit concerned that I just wouldn't be happy if I had gone somewhere else.

"I won't be signing a contract though, so if things don't work out with Radcliffe I will look around for another club."

The former Stockport County, Morecambe and Altrincham hitman was developing a useful partnership with Boro's leading goalscorer Jody Banim last season.

While Banim was banging in over 40 goals last term, Hardy was contributing more than his fair share too with 17 strikes as Boro won promotion to the UniBond Premier Division after that dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Chorley.

"We will have to play as well as we did against Chorley in every game next season," warned Hardy, who played in the Premier previously with Altrincham and also has had Conference experience with Morecambe, Altrincham and Northwich. "There are one or two decent teams in the UniBond Premier, but the rest are just average, so I think we will do all right," he declared.

"Accrington won it handsomely last season playing football and, as we are a footballing side -- and there aren't many better at our level -- hopefully, it will work for us too!"

Midfielders Barrie Keeling and Scott Wilson have left the Boro, Keeling linking up with Stalybridge Celtic and Wilson joining Rossendale United.

Radcliffe Borough are running a series of football schools during the school summer holidays, starting on Tuesday July 22. Further details from Robin Philp on 0161-724 8346.