BOSS Clive Walker cannot wait for the season to start and is confident his squad is strong enough to win the Ryman League Division One title.
His and chairman Jim Parmenter’s wheeler dealing skills in the transfer market have seen the club bring in three top-rate players for the price of one.
Tommy Tyne, Tony Browne and Lee Spiller add valued experience to what is a talented young squad of players – and despite losing Matt Carruthers to Welling as part of the deal Whites have a stronger set-up now than they did when the season finished.
Clive said: “We’re not likely to make any more signings because the budget is now spent. I could’ve brought more players in, had I not gone for these three lads, but I’d have struggled to get the same quality of player.
“It’s vital that we got in top quality players, rather than quantity. We have a squad of 19 now and that’s all we need – and there is a pool of good reserve players that can make the step up if needed.
“Matt, of course, has left, which means we’ve lost a wide player but there are plenty of options in the squad that will give us width. Also I will be looking at a new formation for next season.
“Players like Tony Browne and Daniel Braithwaite can certainly get forward in wide positions and that’s what we’ll be looking at. We may play 3-5-2, with Tony and Daniel on the flanks. Also there’s 4-3-3 and some other options.
“We’re going to look into this during pre-season but I’m confident that this squad can get us promoted out of this league, because that’s absolutely vital.”
Clive insists that he has no shortage of options with a number of players being able to play in different positions.
He said: “Tommy Tyne can play in midfield if need be and then you’ve always got someone like Craig Wilkins who can play at the centre of defence in emergencies, not to mention Clokey who can play in a few different positions – so I’m very relaxed about the squad.
“It’s not going to be an easy league – I’ve no doubt about that. But we have the players who can win the division and, providing they focus on that target and work hard, we will get ourselves up straight away.
“We’re aiming for a double promotion – so this is very much a two-year plan. If we get up this season, then we will add more players next season to the squad to get us into Conference South. We’re going to give it a real go – that’s for sure.”