IT is a measure of how far Padiham have come that they can attract players of the quality of Carl Howarth - and from local rivals Nelson to boot.

That is the verdict of Storks manager Graham Howarth - no relation - who last week persuaded 13-goal striker Carl to join the Arbories side from Victoria Park.

Carl turned down league leaders Bacup to join the Storks.

"It is a measure of how far we have come in the past three years that we can attract players from other clubs.

"I think Carl came here because he has more chance of getting first-team football but it is still great for us.

"We used to be the poor relations around here when we first came into the league, especially to the likes of Nelson, but now players want to come here, work has started on the floodlights, so if we finish in the top two hopefully we will get promoted."

Padiham play Daisy Hill at home tomorrow in NWCL Division Two and after getting back into the top two last Saturday they intend to stay there.

And they will be keeping one eye on the Stone v Bacup result.

"Stone have played two games less than us so maybe a win for them would be better for us. They can go five points clear if they win both their games whereas Bacup are seven points clear of us having played two more.

"Stone are well-organised and are a good footballing side, as are Bacup.

"But the only difference between us and Bacup was the finishing when we played each other."