Goalkeeper hopes for Stevenage deal after Histon contract comes to an end

JOE Welch hopes to have his future sorted out by the end of the week.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper was on loan at Stevenage from Histon during the second half of last season but has since seen his contract with the Cambridgeshire club expire while Boro have snapped up former goalkeeper Alan Julian on a free transfer.

After finding himself a free agent this summer the goalkeeper still hopes to secure a permanent deal with Boro which, in the short term, would see him go out on loan next season to gain valuable first team experience.

“I’m hoping to get things sorted out quite soon, by the end of the week,” Welch told The Comet.

“I think the case would be that if I would stay then I’d go out on loan and gain valuable experience and try to prove myself to show the manager that I can perform at a high level.

“The environment there (at Stevenage) that the manager creates, it’s one where you can develop into a better player. You have to work hard – you’ve no choice but to work hard – and you have to progress because if you don’t I’m sure he’ll move you on.

“It’d be unfair to say (whether any other clubs are after his signature), but I’m trying to get things sorted at the moment and hope to be able to say more at the end of the week or early next week.”