JAY Leader says he turned down a move to Concord Rangers as he felt he had unfinished business with Grays Athletic.

The highly-rated centre-back was one of Grays’ outstanding players towards the end of last season, as Mark Bentley’s side lost only one of their last 14 league matches to come within a point of making the play-offs.

And Leader’s performances did not go unnoticed. National League South side Concord have been in negotiations with Leader for the past few weeks but the defender opted against joining them, admitting he wanted to be fighting at the top of the league next season.

And he believes he will be proved right in turning down a move.

“I had been speaking to Flan (Adam Flanagan – Concord manager) and Jody (Brown – Concord assistant manager and former Grays boss) for a while and I thought about it a lot but I felt the best thing for me was to stay,” said the 25-year-old.

“Grays are a club in a good place at the moment. We came so close last year and it was a bittersweet end to the season to be honest. If we had had another two or three games I think we would have made the play-offs and we need to be challenging again next year.

“I have unfinished business here and I want to be fighting at the top of the league. Concord are in a higher division but a top 10 finish is a success for them and I want to win this league.”

Leader is likely to partner Sean Cronin in central defence next season, after the latter signed forms having left Wealdstone and the departure of Manny Parry to Maidstone United.

And Leader, who can also play at full-back, said he was enjoying playing football under Bentley, who has been a revelation since taking over at the turn of the year.

“I like Benno a lot,” he said. “He is one of the boys having been a player before he became manager and that helps I think. He has a laid-back approach and I like that.

“Hopefully he and the team will continue to push on next year.”