COLNE are set to sign former Burnley defender Gareth West - who just a fortnight ago announced his retirement from the game.

Securing the signature of the 24-year-old centre half would be a major coup the North West Counties Second Division side.

Manager John Lister, whose side face Cheadle Town away tomorrow, said: "Gareth is an old friend of mine from my Burnley days and he is a good mate of one of our players Jamie Webster.

"He rang me to see if he could come training with us. He said he didn't want to commit himself to playing at UniBond level but wanted to keep fit and didn't want to stop playing altogether."

Colne have lost their last three games and have slipped from seventh to 11th in the league.

"Cheadle are down there but they have picked up some results recently and it will be a tough game. The players were refreshed after not having a game in midweek last week and we haven't had a midweek game this week either.

"But we have conceded eight goals in the last three games so that is worrying, but we have been without Ben Callon and we have missed him.

"Gary Dalton has been carrying an injury as well but everyone is fully fit now."