Transfer coup for Diss Town as league winner Charlie Aulert joins from Mulbarton Wanderers

Diss Town joint boss Matt Coote believes in versatile experienced wide player Charlie Aulert they have made a real key addition in their bid to push for a play-off place on their return to action.

The recent losses of forwards Ryan Gibbs to Ely City and Lagshan Sivakumar to AFC Sudbury has not made life easy, but Coote feels Aulert’s arrival from higher-league Mulbarton Wanderers is a big coup.

“Charlie is a fantastic addition,” he said of the 27-year-old.

“We have been chasing him for a while. I have got a very good relationship with him (having been at Mulbarton together).

“He will bring pace and power and his technical side of things is absolutely tremendous.

“With his success with Mulbarton he knows how to do well in the league, so he will provide that good experience to the younger lads we have as well as other players.

“Bringing Charlie in was needed and we’re really grateful that we managed to get him over the line as Mulbarton were keen to keep him. He will be coming straight into our plans going forward.”

Able to play on the wing or full-back on both sides, Aulert has had a bad run of serious injuries, including a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament, which has seen him go without making an appearance for Mulbarton since their First Division North winning campaign of 2019/20.

But Coote is confident those problems are now behind him with the trip to Framlingham Town on January 3 (3pm) currently set to be his first outing, following the Thurlow Nunn League calling off all Monday’s matches (see right).

Diss, who did not have a scheduled game last weekend, go into the enforced break ninth in the First Division North table, six points off the play-off zone with sixth-placed Whittlesey Athletic holding three games in hand.

But Coote believes their recent additions can help them bridge that gap.

“We have also had Alex Curl come in recently in goal recently who has been fantastic,” he said.

“He has settled the backline down really well in his first taste of Thurlow one experience and he has proved to be a big personality.””

He added: “We want to make the play-offs this year but if we fail to meet that we are going for promotion next year and we expect the lads to fufil that really.”

Joint Sutcliffe added: “We’re also pleased with the lads we’ve got. We feel there is some real progress being made and things are going in the right direction.”