Market Drayton Town boss hoping to get squad back together

The Town boss, in common with just about every other non-league manager in the country at this time of year, is casting his net wide and keeping his cards close.

But he’s consistently said that the squad he had before the off-field madness that tore it apart mid-season, was a happy one that could developed successfully together.

Many returned after the saga of Davies’ sacking, the subsequent spate of resignations and his re-instatement.

They helped stave off relegation – but only just. And given the obvious need to strengthen this squad, who better for Davies to target as incomers than men he already knows and trusts.

“I’m not naming names, but it’s pretty obvious the players I would like back for our first season in the new NPL One West,” he admits. “I’m hopeful there’ll be a lot of familiar faces around when we start pre-season, especially against Telford on July 10.

“It’s at Greenfields and it’s always a great crowd pleaser so we’ll have an early chance to get supporters on board.”

An added fillip for old hands at Greenfields is that Telford’s visit will be led by Andy Pryce, Town’s goalkeeper extraordinary during their glory-glory days and now chairman at the New Bucks Head.

Town have five other friendlies on the books – mostly confirmed. They’ve another home date pencilled in on July 17 against Hanley Town, agreed trips to Wem Town on the 20th and Guilsfield on the 24th, a highly likely home game with AFC Wulfs on the 28th and Shifnal Town away on the 31st.

Another important date for the diary – on July 12, the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League authorities are planning to release fixtures for the coming season, due to kick off on Saturday, August 18.

Whether that timetable has been upset by the sudden resignation from the league of Shaw Lane FC remains to be seen.