Chris Conn-Clarke’s stock is continuing to rise after he was named National League player of the year at an awards ceremony in Newport.

Clubs from all three National League divisions gathered at the Celtic Manor Resort for the gala end-of-season event, and there were cheers from the Altrincham contingent when Conn-Clarke was announced as the winner of the most prestigious individual award in non-league football.

It crowned a remarkable campaign for the 22-year old attacking midfielder, whose stunning exploits have now brought him no fewer than seven awards or distinctions, and further strengthened the club’s hand in their ongoing battle to force interested clubs to pay the going rate for him.

As reported in Messenger Sport last week, the Robins are flatly refusing to allow any of the Football League clubs chasing him to recruit him on the cheap and have already turned down some bids that “didn’t come close” to their valuation.

Their resolve is unlikely to falter after the ultimate accolade of National League player of the year was added to a string of other individual honours at the end of a season in which the Northern Ireland Under-21 international clocked up a best-in-the-league 35 goal involvements and the most dribbles (299) of any player in the division.

He won goal of the season at Alty, and was also voted players’ player of the year and young player of the year, and he was named in both the National League team of the year and the one selected by their title sponsors Vanarama.

A sixth honour followed when he was then named Sportsbeat young player of the year at the Non-League Paper’s end-of-season National Game Awards.

The club, who were represented by co-chairman, Bill Waterson, and director, John Coyne, at Celtic Manor, have also announced that, from the start of next season, their sponsors’ lounge will be known as The John King Lounge, in memory of their legendary former captain and manager.