However, at this stage there has been no fee agreed between the clubs and it is understood that as many as five other clubs may have expressed an interest in the player includ ing Huntly, Nairn County, Inverurie Locos and Lossiemouth (where his father, Charlie, is the manager).

Talking to the 'Gazette' at two different junctures, either side of a final meeting between Williamson and Charlesworth, the Can Cans gaffer gave us an honest appraisal of how things stood and how they had changed.

"I heard yesterday (Thursday) that Martin was on the transfer list and told Robbie if he was available, we would be interested, but we would have to look at the price. We enquired about Martin and will enquire about any striker who becomes available and who we feel would give us an edge, but we have to look at our own financial package. Getting into the realms of £10k and above is out of our range. There are only three or four teams in the league capable of paying that sort of fee.

On Monday, Winton said: "I spoke to Robbie again and we now have permission to speak to Martin. He (Charlesworth) has said he is listening to all his options and has had a few teams interested.

"The chairman was away, so I will talk to him tonight but it will come down to what fee Elgin are looking for as we cannot compete in the £10,000 bracket. He is a proven scorer who is quick and knows where the goals are. He is very direct when he gets sight of the net.

"I will look to talk to Martin again, face to face this time and tell him our thoughts on why he should join Forres Mechanics. I can only offer what we can. We are working to a budget and we know that we are not in the same financial league as Deveronvale, Huntly and the Locos, for example, but, hopefully, the attraction of what we are doing with the club and where we see ourselves going might give us an edge.

"He has also worked with a number of our players in the past so, hopefully, that will also help. You have always got to look at players like Martin Charlesworth because he is the kind of player you need if you want to improve, and that is our aim."

The 20-year-old striker has found it tough training twice a week in Inverness and had initially suggested that a change in his position at work would make it impossible for him to remain at Borough Briggs. Look out for more on this story in next week's 'Gazette'.

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