SLOUGH Town joint-manager Jon Underwood admits that timing in football can be funny after the surprise move to re-sign Matthew Lench this week, writes Rob Stevens.

Lench, 26, joined Slough from Hitchin Town in the summer of 2017 and helped the Rebels to win promotion from the Southern League last season.

The midfielder scored 15 goals in 51 appearances, which included a hat-trick in the incredible 6-1 win at Gainsborough Trinity in the first round of the FA Cup.

Lench left Slough for 'non-football reasons' to join Wealdstone in the summer but found his opportunities with the Stones limited so sought a return to Arbour Park.

The Rebels accepted an undisclosed transfer bid from Sutton United for James Dobson earlier this week, and Underwood believes the time is right for Lench to return to the club.

Underwood told the Observer: "We knew the situation with James was happening in the last week or two, so we need to bring in one or two new faces.

"Bringing in new players when they're under contract isn't easy but, when it's someone you know inside out, you need to look at it.

"Matthew hasn't been enjoying his time at Wealdstone and a few problems with injury has led to him not getting the game-time he would like.

"He got in touch with us on Sunday and asked if there was some interest in us re-signing him.

"We let him go in the summer for non-football reasons but there was never any doubting his ability as a player.

"He wasn't right for us then but we've had a little chat and feel it's worth another go.

"I won't go into the details but there are one or two things we want him to do differently and he has taken that on board.

"He didn't get a run of league games at Wealdstone, but we're very pleased to have Matthew and he feels he has some unfinished business with us.

"Football has a funny way of working at times and we never say never to any player. James left once and then came back to us.

"We always try to treat players the right way and be open and honest with them.

"We always make decisions that we feel are in the best interest of the team. We felt it wasn't right to go with Matthew in the summer but the timing is right for us now."

He continued: "Defensively we have been very good and we've been competitive in every game, but we have lacked a little spark or a goal or two at times.

"Hopefully Matthew will bring goals and a little bit of flair in the final third because we've lacked that a little bit at times.

"He's not a straight replacement for James but he can be a threat out wide or through the middle."

Underwood has not ruled out further additions to the squad as Slough look for a solution to their lack of goals this season.

He said: "We will continue to look at a few things but we're not managers that swap and change a lot.

"If we do make changes it will be at the top end of the pitch because we feel we still need something.

"I will not be surprised if something changes in the next few weeks, but we will not panic or rush into anything, and one or two that haven't had much football recently might get their opportunity."