Striker Mitford turned down 'more money' to stay at Kettering

Tre Mitford, pictured scoring for Kettering in their clash at Boston United in December, has signed a deal to keep him at Latimer Park until the end of next season. Picture by Peter Short

The 25-year-old frontman has impressed in recent weeks and has hit six goals in all competitions while adjusting to life at a higher level having joined from BetVictor Southern League Division One Central side Bedford Town earlier this season.

Cox confirmed “two or three clubs” had made seven-day approaches to Kettering for Mitford but any chances of him moving away from Latimer Park were laid to rest when, last week, he signed a deal with the Poppies which will run until the end of next season.

Cox believes there is still lots more to come and he was full of praise for Mitford for sticking with Kettering when it would have been easy to leave.

“Tre has worked extremely hard at certain aspects of his game and I think there is room for major improvement in him as well,” the Poppies boss said.

“There were two or three clubs who put seven days in for him and this is where we have to give the lad credit because certainly a local club offered him a lot more money than what was on the table with ourselves.

“It was a big decision for Tre. I had numerous talks with him about the situation and I can understand it when people want to go for more money.

“But Tre decided to stay with us when the package on the table wasn’t anywhere near what other clubs were offering him.

“I salute him for that because it would have been easy to leave us for the sake of extra money.

“He feels he is developing right, he feels he is at the right club and this is where he sees himself growing as a player."