BROMSGROVE Rovers manager Jimmy Mullen wants to hand a debut to Phil Male in tomorrow's Southern league Division One West trip to Marlow (3pm).

Mullen looks set to snap up the Bedworth United centre-half after putting in a seven-day approach to plug the gap left by Steve Ulfig, who has left for Travel Factory Alliance leaders Chasetown.

Male will add extra security at the back as Rovers aim for their second clean sheet on the bounce following last Saturday's 1-0 win over Cinderford.

Mullen, who was hoping to speak with Male at training last night, said: "I have got permission to speak to him and I am hopeful but everything's got to be done properly. If we sign him he will come straight into the reckoning."

With or without Male, Rovers will look to build on their Cinderford success and continue pushing towards the play-offs.

The situation is tight at the business end of the league and victory against Marlow, three places below Rovers, would put pressure on the promotion chasing pack with only three points separating Rovers from third-placed Yate Town.

"I was pleased with the performance against Cinderford and I was displeased at times," Mullen said. "We should have killed them off, we had the firepower to kill them off. I am hoping that is a lesson we have learned that you have to kill teams off.

"We have got games in hand. Overall we might not have moved many places but we have certainly closed the gap points-wise."