Paddy Davitt King's Lynn boss Carl Heggs has completed a major coup with the signing of Conference North hotshot striker Gareth Sheldon from champions Tamworth.Heggs' beat off competition from Conference Premier top eight side Kidderminster to land the 29-year-old who plundered 23 goals for the Lambs last season.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn boss Carl Heggs last night hailed non league hot-shot Gareth Sheldon as an 'unbelievable' signing for the Unibond Premier Division club.

The 29-year-old predator rejected a fresh deal at newly-promoted Conference Premier side Tamworth and interest from Kidderminster to sign a one-year contract at The Walks.

Sheldon, right, plundered 23 league goals last season to finish second top scorer in Conference North behind Huddersfield-bound Lee Novak - including a superb strike in the champions' 2-0 home win over Lynn in January.

Heggs insists Sheldon's imminent headline arrival is a clear signal of intent at the start of his managerial reign.

“He is probably the best signing that King's Lynn have had for a long, long time,” said Heggs. “What does that tell everybody? It tells everybody something magical is happening down at our club. Kidderminster and Tamworth both offered him good deals but he is my pal and I've sold him the club and what I'm trying to achieve.

“Garry isn't a has-been who has come to King's Lynn to make a few quid. He is a non league centre- forward that everybody respects and he has come to help me win the league. This is an unbelievable signing. If they gave ASBOs for trying I'd be getting one. I phoned him up 50 times, I went round his house, I begged him, I made him feel special. Tamworth didn't do any of that - they expected him to just sign.”

Sheldon was the marquee signing of a whirlwind weekend for Heggs who also recruited Hinckley midfielder Callum Lloyd and ex-football league academy prospects Joe Magunda and Lewis Webb.

Magunda has agreed a one year deal after his release from Leicester City. The 20-year-old centre half/right back played ten games on loan for Blue Square Premier Woking last season and has also represented England at youth level.

Ex-Peterborough youth team midfielder Webb will also be part of Heggs' revolution at The Walks. The 19-year-old was a reserve team mate at London Road last season of ex-Linnet Sam Gaughran.

“Everyone was queuing up to sign him but I'm at his house meeting his Mum and Dad and telling him King's Lynn is the best way to get back into the mainstream,” said Heggs. “It's the same with the other boys. The chairman will have to re-mortgage the football club to pay for my mobile bill. Joe Magunda is one more who has slipped the net for whatever reason but we'll sell him for money.

“He was England U18 captain when he broke his leg playing for Leicester and missed out on the European Championships at that level. Because of the injury he couldn't find his feet again and went to Woking on loan last season. He's 6ft plus and really athletic and I guarantee he will make it.

“Callum is a proper player. He had seven clubs after him over the last three weeks but I met him on Saturday and he said the only reason he wants to come here is because of me. That's not being big-headed but he knows how I work and he knows we are trying to build something.”

Heggs had previously raided former club Redditch for Jordan Smith and Owen Storey within days of taking over last week along with ex-Chesterfield youth keeper Daniel Whatsize.

Meanwhile, former Linnets' stalwart Mark Camm has joined Unibond Premier Division rivals Boston United. Camm rejected an approach from the Pilgrims last season but the 27-year has now severed his ties at The Walks after 269 appearances during a six year career that included two Southern League level promotions.