SILSDEN boss Andy Geary believes signing star player Craig Nicholls on contract signals the club’s intent to progress up the non-league ladder.

And he confirmed they want to tie down more of their promising youngsters to help them achieve their long-term goal of promotion.

The Cobbydalers announced this week that Nicholls has penned a deal which is set to keep him at the club until the end of next season.

Geary said: “What we’ve done is something new at Silsden. We have a lot of young lads and we want them to build together.

“Bigger clubs can come in and take them as and when. It’s not only Craig we want to keep. We’re looking to add more of our young players on contract.”

Geary took Silsden up through grassroots football to the non-league pyramid, achieving promotion to the North West Counties League Premier Division in 2005.

They have stayed their ever since and, having returned to the helm at the Angel Telecom Stadium in 2013, he would love to take the club to the next level.

He said: “You always want to go higher than where you are. We’ve had a lull for five or six years and we have rebuilt with young lads.

“The majority of them are still around 19 and 20. A couple of years down the line, we could have a real push for things.

“It may come sooner but at the moment, we are building slowly.”

Geary is thrilled to see Nicholls commit himself after a superb first half of the season since joining the club.

He said: “Craig is a fantastic asset. He has shown lads who play in local league football what can be done if you have that desire.

“He is as keen as anything, wants to do well and has improved a fantastic amount over the last four or five months. He has a real hunger for scoring.”

Nicholls – believed to have been approached by at least one other club – was recommended to Geary by Keighley-born Danny Forrest, who was impressed by him playing for Yeadon Veterans in the Wharfedale Triangle League. The former Bradford City and Guiseley striker has come up against him in that competition as manager of Ilkley Dynamo.

Nicholls took his tally to 11 for the season with both goals in Silsden’s 2-1 win at home to St Helens Town last Saturday and might have had a hat-trick had he taken the late penalty which was missed by substitute Tom Henderson.

Geary admitted: “I couldn’t understand why he didn’t call the shots and take the penalty. When you’ve scored two you want that more than anything.

“Our nominated penalty-taker Chris Wademan had been subbed and Tom, who’d replaced him, took charge but hit the bar.”

Silsden's victory was their second on the trot and lifted them to ninth in the table ahead of Saturday's home game against Winsford.

Yet Geary is not getting carried away after admitting the performances could have been better. He said: "On both occasions, we won but that was about it. We've limped over the line rather than won impressively. We've been a bit sloppy and have a lot to do in training."