RICO Wilson will enter the last chance saloon at the Avenue Stadium upon his forthcoming release from prison.

The talented striker was jailed for 14 months last March after admitting an assault charge – his second spell behind bars in as many years – but good behaviour has seen that term cut to little more than four months.

And with the 21-year-old due to be released next week, the Magpies are set to offer one final shot at redemption.

The decision may prove controversial but the county town hierarchy insist they will do all they can to help Wilson “turn his life around”.

Manager Phil Simkin told Echosport: “Rico is due for release fairly soon and obviously we have had to do so some soul searching over it.

“The chairman (Shaun Hearn) and I have had long discussions over it and there will be mixed feelings over the decision we have made, but we have decided to give him one last chance.

“We will work very hard with him, not just on the pitch but off it as well, to help him turn his life around.

“He is actually a lovely lad, we just need to get him out of the wrong environment. He is popular in the dressing room and he is an unusual type of player.

“At times he can drive you mad but he has an uncanny knack of scoring goals. And with the financial situation we are in, it’s very difficult to get front players.

“I will be slaughtered in some quarters for taking this decision but you can’t please everybody. We have made our decision and we will stand and fall by it.

“But this has to be the last chance saloon. He knows that this is his last chance, in lots of ways, but hopefully he will grasp it this time.

“I understand he has behaved himself impeccably while he’s been in prison, and that is why he is coming out early.”

Dorchester Town host Yeovil Town in a pre-season friendly tonight (7.45pm).