JASON Jones has turned down a move to Ramsbottom - for now.

Rams manager Mike Kelly has until next Thursday to persuade the Clitheroe midfielder to move to the Riverside - to one of the Blues' NWCL First Division rivals.

There is a transfer 'window' of two weeks during which a club must sign a player after putting seven days' notice on him.

If the player does not sign in that time the club must not make another approach until the following season.

"Jason has said he is willing to stay and fight for his place at Clitheroe because he is in their side at the moment.

"I have until Thursday to persuade him differently.

"I am still looking to sign a central defender and a midfielder - although I thought I had done that with Jason."

Kelly was delighted to see his side fight back from 2-0 down early on against Kidsgrove last week - but was then disappointed to see them squander chances and end up losing 5-3.

"We were 2-0 down and looking second best before Karl Brown got sent off but that kickstarted us and we fought back to 2-2.

"But then it was 3-2 and 4-2 and then we got back to 4-3 and had a chance to level it at 4-4 and then they went up and scored a fifth."

But before then the Rams had won four on the bounce - even without top scorer Russell Brierley, who was suspended for two weeks.

"It was great to go to places like Warrington and Prescot and get maximum points."

The Rams meet Atherton LR at home tomorrow with former Rams players Steve Strange, Wayne Briddon and Luke Hardman looking for a happy return to the Riverside.

But Kelly wants to see his side get back on the winning trail against a side just below them in the league.

"We have got to pick up three points because there is a little bit of a gap developing. Atherton will go above us if they win."