NEIL Reynolds is back at Clitheroe -- and this time he is staying for good.

The influential midfielder controversially ditched the North West Counties First Division side in favour of UniBond First Division scrappers Kendal Town after the Blues failed to get promotion last season.

He was offered a three-figure signing on fee and a wage much larger than he could earn at Clitheroe -- and he took it, much to the annoyance of Blues boss Dave Burgess.

But on Tuesday night, after just four games at Parkside Road, he returned to Shawbridge - and was named man-of-the-match.

"It's brilliant to be back and I am back to stay now, it is guaranteed," said the Preston-born battler.

"I was running out onto the pitch at Kendal thinking 'I want to be at Clitheroe' and that is not right.

"I knew I had to be honest with myself and with them."

The 24-year-old received a hero's welcome from the fans before the 3-1 defeat to Mossley, but he wasn't sure if that was going to be the case.

"I wondered if they were going to give me some stick but straight away they started chanting my name.

"It was wicked to be back; the fans were superb."

He had some strong words of advice for any player who was thinking of following in his footsteps out of the club.

"I would say don't do it. I have been there and it is a big mistake. You don't go for the money, you go to be happy and now I'm happy.

"The money was very tempting, I didn't have a job and I felt it was something I could not turn down.

"But if any player came to me and said they were leaving because they'd been offered more money somewhere else I would tell them not to do it."

Reynolds joined the Blues in October last year - from Kendal - and decided to return after a change in manager at Parkside.

"I was really disappointed about not going up last season and I did the wrong thing by jumping ship and I'll hold me hands up and say I let the lads down," he said.

"I just didn't enjoy it. I missed the lads here. I missed the supporters - everything. You get one man and his dog watching up at Kendal but the supporters here are brilliant.

"My heart was not in it at Kendal and I knew I could give more to Clitheroe."

Clitheroe - who were knocked out of the FA Cup at the Extra Preliminary Round stage last week against Rossington Main - face Prescot Cables at home in NWCL Division One tomorrow, still looking for their first win of the season.

Dave Burgess has major injury worries with Carl Greenwood (calf), Stuart Todhunter (hamstring), Adam Gardner (ribs) and Andy Cowking (achilles) all out.

Also out are Mark Stewart and Jason Jones (suspended) and Neil Spencer (work).