RYAN Clarke is now expected to join Worcester City following another dramatic twist in his on-off transfer saga.

City's hopes of signing the 23-year-old defender from Alfreton Town appeared over last week when the player performed a U-turn and opted to stay with the Derbyshire club.

However, Clarke, a long-term target of City boss Andy Preece, has finally decided to leave Alfreton and join up with former Impact Arena team-mate Emika Nwadike.

City are now set to take the matter to a Football Association tribunal to finalise the level of Alfreton's compensation fee as Clarke is under 24.

The St George's Lane club are believed to have offered £5,000 for the defender last August but could end up paying more as he has missed just one game in the past two seasons.

Clarke, whose agent is ex-Nottingham Forest winger Franz Carr, played 98 out of a possible 99 matches for the Reds and endeared himself to the fans as one of the team's most consistent performers.

But Alfreton manager Nicky Law is now resigned to losing his second player to Worcester in under a month.

However, he was not surprised by City's continued efforts to prise the player away ahead of the new Blue Square North season.

Law said: "Deep down I knew he only made the U-turn last week because of Worcester not pursuing him.

"To be fair, Ryan thinks he is bigger and better than Alfreton. That is his decision and his prerogative. I have been in this game a long while and you get a feel for players.

"I know talking to him that he feels Alfreton is below him. At the end of the day, Ryan chose to leave. I think he only came back on the rebound and he was living in hope that Worcester would renew their interest, which they have obviously done.

"The club has done all they can to keep him but there is only so much you can do."

Regarding a possible tribunal, Law added: "Worcester knew what the asking price for the lad was so they can't be that concerned that it might be more than they were willing to pay."

City, who are not ready to comment on the Clarke saga, start pre-season training on Friday night at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.