AFC Fylde were delighted to announce this week that midfielder Josh Wilson has signed a permanent deal with the club.

After arriving on loan from Vanarama Conference Premier side FC Halifax Town last month Josh has made seven appearances, scoring one goal, and has made a huge impact in the recent run of results that has seen The Coasters move back to the top of the Conference North table.

Challinor was delighted to be able to bring Josh in permanently and said of his latest signing: “Josh has done really well with us.  He was obviously disappointed to miss the Barrow game on Boxing Day after pulling up in the warm-up but he’s someone I tried to get in the summer but he was made a really good offer by Halifax and the lure of playing at the next level up and being already there, he decided to stay.

“Lately though he’s not been playing a lot of football and we’ve managed to get him in on loan and he’s done well.  I think he’s enjoying his football and he’s done well for us so it suits everyone really.”

Josh has penned a one and half year deal that will take him to the end of the 2015/16 season with Fylde and there is an option to extend that for a further year after that.

Challinor added: “He’s back enjoying his football and he’ll certainly make us stronger as a squad.  He gives us a little bit of presence with him being a big lad, he can play as a central striker with his back to goal, he can play as a deep-lying midfielder or he can play in a wide area if need be so he’s flexible in what positions we can play him.”

And the Fylde boss believes there is plenty more to come from Josh once he’s back fit: “Ultimately he’s a good footballer and he will get in the box and feed on balls being put in there by Barnesy, when he’s back, Lloydy and Richie.  So he’ll add a lot to us and we’re really looking forward to working with him.”

A full interview with Josh on his signing will follow next week.