COLWYN Bay have secured the loan signing of Billy Sass Davies from Crewe Alexandra.

The 17-year-old defender goes straight into the Seagulls’ squad for their crucial home clash with Brighouse Town on Saturday as Alan Morgan’s side look to enhance their playoff chances further following an impressive victory at Goole.

Davies is a resident of Abergele and has turned out for the Welsh U19 side in a series of fixtures throughout the campaign, including being part of the side that hosted Iceland at the home of Huws Gray Alliance side Rhyl recently.

He is a second-year scholar at the Crewe Academy and has already been on the first team bench this season.

Morgan has been dealt a blow with the shock news that Dan Collins has decided to return home to Australia.

The South African born 22-year-old moved to North Wales from Sydney in 2014 and was with the Wrexham Academy before joining the Bay, initially on loan, last season.

After 34 appearances he has decided to relocate back to Sydney and will be flying home after next Tuesday’s game at Ramsbottom United.

Morgan said: “Dan will be a huge loss. Since I’ve been here he has been tremendous and we are very sorry to see him go, but we wish him all the very best in the future.”

Saturday’s contest could see Bay climb into the top six play-off spots on goal difference if they can win and other results go their way.

Fourth-bottom Brighouse have had only one win in their last five games, but that was a 2-0 triumph at sixth-placed Trafford and only six teams have won more away games in the Evo-stik North this season.

The Seagulls again look likely to be without Danny Bartle who is still sidelined after tweaking the medial ligament in his knee, but do have Jamie Rainford back from his loan spell at Droylsden.