Finnish international defender Juho Rantala steps straight into the Billericay Town First team tomorrow afternoon -- just three days after his arrival in Britain.

Rantala, who has had experience with Atlantis and, most recently, First Division side HIFK in his home country, did play a pre-season game for the New Lodge side at the start of the season.

Now, with his girlfriend due to arrive in this country at the end of May to start a three-year contract working for a Swiss bank, Rantala desperately wants to prove to Town boss Gary Calder that he's worthy of a contract to play a major part in the Ryman League Premier Division side's future.

Calder admits to being excited at the prospect of seeing his new acquisition going into action in tomorrow's derby with Heybridge Swifts and said: "I've got a gut feeling that this guy's going to do very well.

"From seeing him pre-season I know that he's big and strong and good on the ball. It's good that people at this club have worked together to give him this chance. One of our supporters is putting him up until his girlfriend arrives and he'll be carrying out some journalistic work via the internet back to his home country."

With the arrival of Rantala, who has in the past had a trial with Leyton Orient as well as being on Dagenham and Redbridge's books, comes news of another impending departure.

Both midfielder Andy Tomlinson, who is likely to return with Swifts tomorrow, and defender Jeff Woolsey, now with Grays, have gone in recent weeks and Calder revealed that regular goalkeeper for the past two seasons, Gavin King, had been told that his contract will not be renewed at the end of the campaign.

King has been replaced by experienced ex-Kingstonian man Jerome John over the past couple of games and he continues tomorrow.

With KK Opara suspended, Jamie Wallace is likely to return from injury to partner Joe Baker up front.

Said Calder: "By the standards I was looking for we've had a poor season and I'm looking to bring in some big time and big name players for next season."

Tomorrow sees the introduction of the club's "two kids free" promotion, under which up to two children aged 12 and under can gain free admission if accompanied by a paying adult providing they bring along the accompanying voucher.

Published Friday, March 15, 2002