NEILL HARDY will be trying to force his way into the Stockport County first team straight away following his £25,000 move from Radcliffe Borough.

Hardy was set to sign for County, barring any complications with a medical he underwent yesterday, but the 27-year-old hitman has already been told by Stockport manager Andy Kilner that he will be expected to force his way into County's first team 16 as soon as possible.

Bury FC had Hardy on trial towards the end of last season and were suitably impressed as he scored one goal and laid on another in a title-clinching performance for the Shakers' reserves as they won the Avon Insurance Division Two championship.

"The interest was still there from Bury," said Hardy, "but they were waiting for someone with some money to come into the club and Stockport jumped in before them and said they would take a chance on me."

Boro boss Kevin Glendon thinks Hardy will seize that chance with both hands. "He's 27, so he has got to make an impact straight away," he said. "I have no doubts he can do it. Once he has reaped the benefits of full-time training, I am sure he can. He has got the talent and ability.

"Lutel James came from the UniBond with Hyde to make his debut for Bury against Manchester United and played in the First Division and Nicky Daws made the jump from non-league Altrincham to Bury, so there have been others who have done it. Neil has also played in the Conference as well," added Glendon.

Hardy, who did two years as a YTS trainee with Tranmere Rovers and a year at Crewe Alexandra in his younger days, scored 22 goals for Boro last term in the First Division of the UniBond League and was honoured by his own team-mates, who made him their Players' Player of the Season.

Glendon signed Hardy on a free from Conference side Morecambe in the summer of 2000, so he will have pleased Boro chairman Bernard Manning Junior with the cash Hardy's sale has brought in. It will amount to a club record £25,000 deal if Hardy, who has also played in the Conference for Northwich Victoria and Altrincham, goes on to complete 25 first team games for Stockport.

Boro are to receive an initial down payment of £15,000 -- matching the previous record fee received for another striker, Paul Mullin, from Accrington Stanley at the beginning of last season. There will be an extra £10,000 if Hardy plays those 25 games for County.

"It might not be a lot of money for Stockport County, but it is for us," said chairman Manning. "OK, we could be accused of not building a side by selling our young players -- but we are simply having to survive and we will do the same again if we have to.

"Stockport have been watching Neill all season and they obviously liked what they saw."

Glendon added: "It costs £30,000 to keep a club like Boro going for a season. We had to do that with debts as well, but we have almost paid those debts off now and are in a much stronger position.

"If we can go through next season without incurring debts then we will be even stronger.

"It's sad to see Neil go, because we wanted him to help us to win promotion next season, but, apart from the financial aspect, we can't stop a lad who has the opportunity of going into the likes of the First Division and playing against the likes of Wolves and Manchester City next season.

"I am looking for a replacement and I am seeing a lad called Richard Landon who is with Altrincham and has League experience with Plymouth and Macclesfield behind him," added Glendon.

The Boro boss will also be pursuing his interest in former Bury striker Lee Buggie, who is said to be attracting interest from Rochdale, a club who had him on loan last year, and the vastly experienced 38-year-old Nigel Gleghorn, who played for Stoke City, Ipswich Town, Manchester City and Birmingham City.