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Ex-Nostell ace Oli's on Fulham's radar
Former Nostell MW player Oli Johnson could be set to swap League One for the Premiership – and a Europa Cup campaign in the bargain with 2008-09 success story Fulham.
The 21-year-old rookie striker has enjoyed a dramatic rise to footballing stardom since swapping the ninth tier of English football with Northern Counties East League Premier Division outfit Nostell for Stockport County last October.
Johnson, who incredibly was also playing Wakefield Sunday League football with Division One outfit Shepherds Arms at the start of the season, has proved a big hit for the Hatters in his debut season in the Football League.
He made a total of 24 league appearances – including nine starts – and found the net five times, including a brace in County's thrilling 4-3 win in their Cheshire derby with Crewe Alexandra in the club's final home game of the season.
But with cash-strapped County having been placed into administration, they are open to offers for all their players, including jet-paced striker Johnson – with several big clubs including Fulham reportedly keen to land him.
Johnson recently spent a week training with the Cottagers – with West Bromwich Albion also running the rule over him for seven days – with Fulham boss Roy Hodgson reportedly wanting to sign the young frontman.
Millwall have also expressed an interest in the player, who signed a contract extension earlier this spring.
Nostell would be entitled to a sell-on fee if Johnson, who had been combining studies at the University of Huddersfield with a part-time bar job in Wakefield before being handed his big break by County, is transfered.
But it remains to be seen how much Johnson – on the books at Sheffield Wednesday before being released – would fetch, due to the Cheshire club's financial problems.
Nostell boss Alan Colquhoun said: "Oli spent a week at West Brom and then went to Fulham for a week and they are very interested in him. He did very well there.
"It's been an amazing season for Oli, who was playing for us just eight months ago.
"For him to have the chance of moving to the Championship or Premiership is fairly unbelievable.
"I still see him regularly and he's friends with my son and we've kept in touch.
"He's got pace and quick feet and is a good footballer."
On whether Nostell could receive a windfall if Johnson moves on, he added: "We do have a small sell-on, although whether it means anything with Stockport still in administration, I don't know.
"They still owe us money from appearances, if he played above 20 games – and he's played 24 – we were due something, but we are not holding our breath with their current situation.
"It would be nice if Stockport were right with us, although I think their financial situation is worse than Nostell's!"
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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