Today, with the Harriers players all due back for pre-season training tomorrow morning, came the shock news that fans favourite Anthony Malbon (right) was to leave the club and his intended destination was to be Stalybridge Celtic of the Conference North.  Later on Malbs was denying this on his Facebook page and now the fans are wondering what is going on.

Ever since he burst onto the scene in the New Year of 2012 he has excited us all with his goalscoring ability and the endearing way that he celebrated those goals.  Who can ever forget his first goal for us at Alfreton on January 21st and then that crazy dance when he scored our consolation goal at Telford a few weeks later.

Sadly it wasn't always going to be happy memories for the lad because who will never forget that disgraceful episode against Mansfield when Louis Briscoe committed GBH on the lad and put him in hospital.  Malbs left the ground in an air ambulance while Briscoe left the ground on the team bus laughing at not being sent off by the pathetically weak referee.  Luckily for us, and him, it didn't affect him too much and the following season he scored a credible twenty goals in forty three games.  Malbs was back with a bang.

It was the season just ended when he came back from close season and it was noticeable that he put on a bit of timber and wasn't as fit as he should have been.  He found himself continually left on the sidelines and the supporters wondering where it had all gone wrong.  At first Anthony shrugged off the comments but it must have hit home because this close season we have had a running commentary on his Facebook page telling us all about his new found fitness and his eagerness to hit the ground running in a few weeks time.

Now, strangely, that will not be the case after todays announcement by both the Harriers and Stalybridge that he had left Aggborough for the Bower Fold but since denied by the man in question???

Just what is going on and will we ever see the man that 'Scores When He Wants' in a Harriers shirt again?  Has there been a fall out or does he feel there is no place for him at Aggborough anymore and he needs a new challenge with a wiped clean slate.

Whatever it is Malbs good luck in whatever you do and don't forget us mate.