TONY Mendy is expected to leave AFC Hayes this summer and manager Ian Crane has already prepared for the striker’s exit.

Mendy sparkled for the Brook last term and banged in 28 goals despite missing the first two months of the season through injury.

Hereford United are looking at taking him up to the Blue Square Premier and Crane says the teenager has already resisted offers from Hayes & Yeading and Burnham.

And with interest hotting up, the Farm Park boss has already swooped for a new frontman and a raft of new signings to wear the blue and white next season.

Crane said: “I’ve got a good relationship with Tony. I know what he wants and I know he has already turned down Burnham. He didn’t fancy that. I see that Slough have gotten rid of their forward and they put in an approach for Tony last year, but I’m 100 per cent sure he won’t go there this summer. He wants to play in the Conference.

“Tony had a look at Hayes & Yeading but didn’t fancy it. I know he’s had someone from Hereford on to him as well and Gordon Bartlett at Wealdstone is going to have a chat with him I think. We don’t hold our players back here.

“He scores goals and he’s got that in-built ability to score.

“You’ve got to set your team up to get the best out of him though. It’s a bit like Michael Owen when he was at Liverpool – he thrived there because the team was set up in a way which got the best from him.

“Tony has got all the physical attributes to go and have a great career. He had a terrific year last year but we all know that the trick is doing it year after year. He needs a manager that will allow him to grow. Young players need a manager to give them confidence.

“We’ve already signed his replacement. We’ve got three or four new signings already tied up and we’ll announce them soon. I think we’ve got about 10 already signed up from last year and eight or 10 already agreed. I don’t see us losing anyone other than Tony this year.”

Meanwhile, Ben Goode will be playing football at Farm Park again, despite sealing a move to Wealdstone last week.

Goode was recommended to the Stones by Crane but the Hayes chief is expecting the young goalkeeper to play another season in the Southern League before moving to Grosvenor Vale.

Crane added: “I recommended Ben to them and I think it’s a good opportunity for him.

“It’s a good tie-in we’ve got with Wealdstone and it can be good for both clubs, giving our players the opportunity to progress and allowing us to borrow a few from them. We had four from them last season and it worked well.”