Last updated 19:28, Friday, 28 November 2008

WELL, the worst-kept secret in West Cumbrian football was finally made public late last week.

Shaun Vipond has finally completed a move to Borough Park and has signed on until the end of the season.

Boss Darren Edmondson has been trying to tie up a deal for the 19-year-old for weeks, and his wish came true just in time for the trip to Tamworth.

The move is great news for the Reds fans who will have seen Vipond grow in confidence during his three-month stay.

He got a bit of stick during his first couple of games, but coming to a semi-professional club from a league side, with a reputation, is always hard and too much was expected early on.

Initially Vipond was used as a stop-gap on the right of midfield, a position he was not familiar with.

Now that he has been playing in the middle, the youngster has starred in the Reds line-up.

Moves like Vipond’s should be more regular in football.

Edmondson this week told me: “It will do Shaun good to be playing first-team football and that is what we can offer him.”

Vipond had no future at Carlisle and the move will do the player good.

Even if his stay in West Cumbria is brief, it will be worthwhile for him to keep his fitness up.

Vipond is still a teenager and one problem we have in football is young players getting bad advice.

If he had stayed at Carlisle and tried to force his way into Greg Abbott’s plans then he would be training, but there is no substitute like playing football.

Reds can be a great breeding ground in the county and help to develop the talent that this county has to offer.

In the past we have had Grant Holt and Glenn Murray, and at Carlisle now there are local lads involved in the youth set-up who will make it in the game in the near future.

Reds should be there to help bring on their development and I know there have been discussions between the clubs.

Hopefully this will mean Reds will get young talent coming to cut their teeth in the Blue Square North, and with Edmondson and Viv Busby in charge then they will learn a lot.

Everyone I have spoken to says that the Workington dressing room is the best they have ever been in.

That is not due to the beautiful decor, but the banter between the lads, and the management that is second to none.

This can only help players feel welcome and want to play for the club.