Diamonds boss Sandy confirms Billy Sharp 'conversation' ahead of Burton Cup clash
Boss Elliot Sandy has confirmed the club has had 'a conversation' with veteran striker Billy Sharp about him coming out of retirement for AFC Rushden & Diamonds' huge FA Cup first round clash at Burton Albion.
But Sandy says that is as far as the situation has gone, and that the club are also looking at other options to strengthen a frontline that has been hit by a suspension to striker James Clifton for the trip to the Pirelli Stadium.
Sharp enjoyed a successful loan spell with Rushden & Diamonds from Sheffield United in 2005, scoring nine goals in 16 matches for the Nene Park side.
They were his first senior goals.
The much-travelled goal machine, who is now aged 40, retired from professional football in the summer, but after Diamonds' fourth qualifying round win over Morecambe he messaged Sandy offering his congratulations.
The Diamonds boss said he 'half jokingly' had a conversation with chairman Rob Usher about Sharp signing on ahead of the big Cup date, but contact was made.
Sharp, who is on 299 career goals, has now gone public, and confirmed to the Football League Paper at the weekend: "Yes, Rushden have asked me to play for them in the FA Cup first round, I’ve still not totally ruled it out.
“They were the first club I ever scored a goal for. To go back after all those years, and to score my 300th goal for them in the FA Cup - it would be such a great story, wouldn’t it?
"Right now, I can’t see it happening, but never say never.”
Sandy has now also confirmed there has been contact between the two parties.
"With Billy, there was sort of talk half jokingly with the chairman," said the Diamonds boss.
"Then he sent me a message after we beat Morecambe, congratulating us and things.
"With James Clifton being suspended, it does leave us short in that area so we have had a conversation, but that's as far as it has gone at the moment."
If Sharp doesn't end up signing on, Sandy has confirmed the club is looking at further options to bolster their front line.
The experienced Clifton has been suspended for an accumulation of bookings in Diamonds' seven ties to date this season, and there are also injury concerns about other key attackers.
"At the minute we have Jordan O'Brien and Bruno Andrade injured," said Sandy.
"We hope they will be fit, but you just don't know, and then Cliffy's suspension does leave us short at the top end of the pitch.
"We haven't got very long, but it is an area we will be looking at, and we will be looking at all of our options before that Burton game to see what we can do."