Paddy Davitt King's Lynn's on-loan defender Luke Graham is urging the club's hierarchy to offer Linnets' chief Keith Webb a new deal. Webb's initial two year contract expires next month and Graham insists now is the time to end any off-the-field uncertainty ahead of planned talks with chairman Ken Bobbins.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn's on-loan defender Luke Graham is urging the club's hierarchy to offer Linnets' chief Keith Webb a new deal.

Webb's initial two-year contract expires next month and Graham insists now is the time to end any off-the-field uncertainty ahead of planned talks with chairman Ken Bobbins.

The 22-year-old Kettering defender is poised to return to the Blue Square Premier outfit after Lynn's league finale at Vauxhall Motors on April 25 - but would consider extending his stay at The Walks.

“I want to play as high as I can but I'm grateful to King's Lynn,” said Graham. “They gave me a platform to come and play games but things are up in the air here at the moment with the manager and the financial situation. Both need to be sorted fairly quickly because there will be a lot of players and clubs in the same boat this summer. King's Lynn have to show everyone they're prepared to move in the right direction.

“Keith and Lee (Glover) deserve to get another chance because they've had a lot to deal with this season away from the football. I certainly wouldn't rule Lynn out as an option because with Keith and Lee in charge and everything right off the pitch they can be pushing for the play-offs. Kettering went up with a record 97 points from this league but that was at the third time of asking.”

Graham is adamant securing Lynn's Blue Square North status in their debut campaign should not be underestimated following the fall-out from the exit of major financial backer Michael Chinn.

A trio of the club's Southern League title-winning squad left in the aftermath while the club's remaining management and playing squad agreed a wage deferral.

“That period was a real eye-opener for me,” said Graham. “It was a difficult time and I don't think anyone saw it coming. The lads were just in a state of shock. We had to get together as a group and make some difficult decisions. Every player or member of the backroom staff had to do what was best for them.

“Those lads who left didn't do it lightly. Michael (Frew) has a young family, Joe (Francis) wanted regular football and Ben (Chapman) had a chance to be nearer his home.

“It could've been easy for me to go back to Kettering because the lads were owed money and we still are but I can honestly say this is the best group I've ever been around in terms of the characters. We picked up and went on a run which was vital because at that time we could have easily got dragged into the relegation places.”

Graham insists Webb's squad is desperate to avoid finishing the season with a whimper after back-to-back defeats ahead of Saturday's latest home test against play-off chasing Alfreton.

“We owe the fans a performance - especially the ones who travelled to Droylsden and Fleetwood,” said Graham. “We just didn't produce in the last game and we know we let ourselves down but this has come after a great run for the last two months in very difficult circumstances.

“Alfreton have spent a lot of money this season so it'll be tough. They've got strikers in and around the England amateur squad but we don't want to just tail off.

“It's important not to send the supporters away on a downer for the summer thinking there is nothing positive to hold on to.”