CHERRIES manager Mel Machin has swooped to sign free-scoring Fulham striker Kevin Betsy on a month's load with a view to a permanent move.

The 21-year-old is expected to make his debut in Cherries Division 2 clash against high-flying Burnley at Turf Moor tonight (7.45).

And Betsy could be followed to Dean Court by another loan signing from a leading Premiership club who Machin still hopes to secure on a long-term deal next week.

Scychelles-born Betsey was singed by former Fulham manager Kevin Keegan from Football Conference outfit Woking in a £130,000 deal 12 months ago.

An England semi-pro international, Betsey was converted by Keegan from a wing-back to a striker and was Fulham's top scorer with 17 goals in the Avon Insurance Combination.

He also netted on his Football League debut against Millwall and played in the FA Cup fifth round defeat by Manchester United and in the Worthington Cup against Liverpool at Anfield.

Machin contacted Fulham boss Paul Bracewell to finalise the signing yesterday before Betsy joined up with Cherries at Fleet Services and headed north for their overnight stay near Bolton.

Cherries manager Machin sad: "Kevin caught my eye when he played for Woking and when Paul Bracewell took over at Fulham at the end of last season I made enquiries about him then.

"Paul told me I could take him on loan when the time was right for Fulham and he has kept to his word. Kevin is a direct player who has one or two tricks up his sleeve."

Betsy's arrival softens the blow for Machin who is without Steve Robinson and Richard Hughes who are on international duty with Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively.

CHERRIES: (from) Ovedale, Young, Warren, Cox, Howe, Moan, Huck, Stein, Fletcher, Betsy, Tindall, Day, Haytor, Jorgensen, O'Neill, Bailey, Stewart.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.