National League’s Top Scorer ‘Is Staying Put’

The Wood’s 11 goal forward has spent time training with League One Portsmouth - but a deal is not close.

Chairman Danny Hunter believes the club have one of Non-League football’s top talents on their books and was moved to release a statement saying Andrade isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The Vanarama National League’s top scorer - he stresses - will be staying in Hertfordshire until at least the end of the season.

“Yes, it’s true that Bruno did go down to Portsmouth for a few days, yes, it’s true it was arranged through myself, Luke (Garrard, Boreham Wood manager) and Kenny Jackett and yes it was very much with our permission,” Hunter confirmed.

“It’s also true I believe, that they like Bruno, both as a person and as a player, but at this stage there is absolutely nothing more to it. It’s certainly not true that we have held any further discussions since and it’s not true that we have accepted a Pompey offer.”

He went on: “It’s certainly not true that I’m ready to sanction any deal in the foreseeable future, or, that we are looking for a deal to be done in January – unless the boy could remain with us until the season’s end.

“We are quietly ambitious ourselves and we have set our own targets this season. It’s only October, a bit of FA Cup glory for the town is still possible, and the transfer window doesn’t even open up again until January.

“We all accept that Bruno is an exceptional talent, but I hope that he trusts me to ultimately do what’s best for him, the dressing room and the football club.

“I’m nobody’s fool, and as Bruno is the National League’s top goal scorer with 11 goals in 17 games, interest in him will continue over the coming months.

“We’ve got a player who can do things others can’t, and when you’ve got a player who’s made his debut at just 17 in the Premiership, under Neil Warnock, then people know he has a pedigree.

“He’s now matured, understands what it’s like to graft in men’s football and he’s now scoring goals for fun.”

Boreham Wood, who drew 0-0 at Guiseley on Tuesday, welcome Bromley to Meadow Park this weekend.