Craig Arnott, left, pictured playing for Maldon & Tiptree against Needham Market's Bradley Barber

RYMAN League Division One North leaders Leiston today completed the loan signing of Colchester United striker Craig Arnott ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Great Wakering.

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Manager Mark Morsley has moved swiftly to bring in 19-year-old Arnott on a deal that runs until the end of the season following the loss of Nathan Stone.

The Oulton Broad-based striker joined Lowestoft Town on a two-and-a-half year contract yesterday, but Morsley is delighted to have secured Arnott as his replacement.

He said: “Obviously we are pleased to have a player of Craig’s undoubted ability joining our squad. I feel it is a great ‘marriage’ between Leiston and Craig; he needs to prove to John Ward and Colchester United that he is worthy of a new contract next season and as a goalscorer he’ll do that by hitting the back of the net.

“That ambition he has fits in with what myself, my staff and players all want and that is to try and win the Ryman League Division One North.

“I also feel it shows how far we as a club have come and how our ambition has put us at a new level.

“Having coaches of the quality of Steve Ball, Lee Norfolk and Nathan Munson (all ex-pros) means that professional clubs look upon us as the right place to help their players develop.

“This also has the potential to become an arrangement that both clubs can benefit from going forward. If we win the league and Craig gets a new deal everyone wins!”

Morsley said he had been happy to let Stone leave because he believed it was the right thing to do for the team.

“I have made these decisions with players in the past and I know they are not always popular – there is no doubt a number of our fan base will be disappointed with this one and will not understand it.”

“Having a successful squad is not just about how good an individual player is as a footballer, but more about how good is that player at being a part of the team.”