King's Lynn Town striker Adam Marriott could be a gem for league clubs
There is plenty of talent kicking around in the National Leagues and below – and King's Lynn Town striker Adam Marriott could be one such gem.
Never in football has recruitment needed to be so clever as clubs look to cope with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Financially, some Football League clubs – like many of their counterparts in the non-league game – could be crippled by Covid-19 and the loss of revenue through playing behind closed doors.
Some may be forced to part company and sell their prized possessions and Lynn's frontman is expected to be top of several replacement lists.
Football will have to adjust to a new reality, and the transfer market is one area where clubs will have to be more prudent.
Some suggest it could offer football a chance to hit the reset button and change the way the game finances itself more positively.
The fact that Marriott, who has plundered 58 goals in 76 appearances in a King's Lynn shirt, has yet to agree a new deal with the Linnets will ring alarm bells with many of The Walks faithful.
But it still remains early days as both club and player plot for the future on the football field.
Marriott could be stalling to see what offers are on the table or just merely waiting to see if the Linnets are promoted into the top flight of the National League.
Although the Linnets are reluctant to lose the man who has spearheaded their attack in the last two seasons, nobody would deny the ambitious 29-year-old the opportunity of a return to the league game for the first time since leaving Stevenage back in 2016.
Marriott spent two years at Broadhall Way earlier in his career and would love one more crack on the big stage.
He was part of the youth academy at Norwich City but left in 2006, at the age of 15, for Cambridge United, where he scored 10 goals in 56 appearances, 35 from the bench.
He also had a loan spell at Bishop's Stortford. He dropped to the Southern League Premier Division and in 2013-14 smashed a stunning 40 goals for the Lilywhites.
He then moved on to Stevenage and Lincoln City, helping the Imps to the National League title and the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2016-2017.
Marriott was provider for Nathan Arnold's goal which knocked out Ipswich Town in a third round replay upset and enjoyed a late cameo during Lincoln's 5-0 quarter-final defeat at Arsenal.
There's no doubting he is the man with the Midas touch in front of goal, but the wait could well be worthwhile if Lynn are promoted and the player decides to remain at The Walks.
