Soccer Shorts: We have unfinished busines to attend too, says Ashford United boss Danny Lye

Here are tonight’s Soccer Shorts articles

 

ASHFORD UNITED manager Danny Lye says he is targeting the Southern Counties East Football League title next season after finishing behind Greenwich Borough and Hollands & Blair.

Lye told www.ashfordunitedfc.com: “With the season now over and having had time to reflect on the season, it feels like the club, supporters, players and management team have unfinished business to attend too.

“With the unjustified 10 point deduction last season I feel that prevented the club having a very special season.

“Shaun Welford and I spoke during the season and discussed not winning any silverware would be deemed a failure. Bearing this in mind it has given us an even bigger hunger to succeed next season.

“We have been working hard behind the scenes preparing for next season adding to the squad with what we lacked last season to improve us next season.

“We are sure the majority of the squad will stay with us next year to be part of an even better season.”

CRAY WANDERERS have announced that defender Jay Leader, midfielder Lea Dawson and Karl Dent have signed contracts to stay with the Ryman League Division One South club.

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman says he has released midfielder Barry Cogan.

The Darts boss told www.dartfordfc.com: “I have now met with all the contracted players from last season.  It is with regret that I have not offered Barry Cogan terms from last season.

“I have invited Lee Burns and Callum McNaughton back for pre-season training.  Callum, who suffered an unfortunate injury in March of last season, has accepted the offer to return.

“Lee, who has been an outstanding servant to the club, is still to make up his mind.

“I have spoken to Paul Lorraine who came to us last season to help out as cover in the defensive area, has also been asked to come back for the pre-season. There is no secret that I have tried to persuade Paul to be a part of the squad over the last few years and he is considering the offer to return.

“At this moment in time, I am delighted that we have signed 11 players for the 2016-17 campaign.

“I have also been busy talking to potential targets to join the squad for next season. I will not be rushed into signing players just for the sake of it, as the people that I have signed at this moment in time gives me an excellent nucleus to start with.”

GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally has aired his thoughts on The Football League’s proposals to create a new league division as of the 2019-20 season, to minimise midweek fixtures and reduce fixture congestion.

Mr Scally issued a statement on the club’s website www.gillinghamfootballclub.com:

“The Football League has produced an exciting and innovative set of proposals. I remember when the creation of a play-off format was first suggested; there was plenty of initial opposition, but they’ve turned out to be the single-most creative idea implemented in English football in the last 30 years. 

“I’m not saying I’m in favour of the plans; however, I believe the proposals deserve proper consideration. The idea of playing more games with greater significance, but fewer matches in total is attractive to me, in so far as supporters would not have to travel great distances on a Tuesday night (we played midweek fixtures at Fleetwood Town and Rochdale last season, for example). A Christmas break could also be of huge benefit, too. 

“Furthermore, the players would still play over 40 games a season once you include cup fixtures. It’s worth noting that, because of the rigours of the 51-match campaign the club has just finished, we still have players recovering from the gruelling demands placed on them.

“The proposals were loosely discussed by the Football League prior to their release, and we can now undertake over a year of consultation with supporters, stakeholders, sponsors and other interested parties until they go to a vote. 

“In particular, consideration needs to be given to how the eight new members of the Football League are appointed. Provided we can protect the integrity of the Football League and the competition, clubs’ income streams and the interested parties are happy, I believe we can have a productive period of discussion.”

Of the current 72 Football League clubs, 90 per cent must back the proposals for them to be implemented. 

GREENWICH BOROUGH have re-signed Jake Britnell, Michael Power, Mohamed Eisa, Lewis Clark, Jesse Darko, Paddy O’Connor, Francisco Mbela and Peter Sweeney, ahead of the club’s Ryman League Division One South debut season.

Manager Gary Alexander has released defender Nico James and 34-year-old midfielder Scott Kinch.

Gary Borrowdale, 30, will stay signed on as a first team player but will be assisting Owen Jones to run the club’s highly-rated under 21 side, as well as helping Craig Holloway with the club’s Academy.

HYTHE TOWN have signed striker Kenny Pogue and midfielder Sam Adams from Eastbourne Town and Hastings United respectively.

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Jay Saunders has started assembling his squad for the club’s first season in the Vanarama National League.

The Stones boss already has the services of Callum Davies, Alex Flisher, Vas Karagiannis, Jay May, Tom Mills, Jack Paxman, Dan Sweeney and Lee Worgan secured by way of a contract and is talking to the rest of the players who helped the club earn promotion to the top flight of the non-league game.

Of those, James Rogers is close to agreeing a deal for his third season at the Gallagher Stadium; supporters’ player of the year Jamie Coyle is ready to take his place at the heart of the Stones defence and 17-year-old Jack Richards will become a first team regular following his impressive performances for the club’s academy.

Alex Akrofi looks set to start the 2016/17 campaign elsewhere after being offered a short-term loan deal. Announcements about other players will be made in the near future.

Since returning from an academy tour in Spain late last week, Saunders has been catching-up with the current squad and sifting through numerous emails and texts from players interested in joining the club.

Saunders told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk: “It’s been a busy few days but things are taking shape. I’ve been talking to the boys who were here last season, particularly those who were out of contract. The nucleus of the squad’s in place and me, Nicky (Southall) and Jamie (Coyle) will be looking to strengthen certain positions and make sure we’ve got cover throughout the side.”

RICHMOND KISSI says £444.69 was raised at his charity game which was staged at Holmedale’s Oakley Road ground last Sunday.  Micky Collins’ celebrity XI defeated Kissi’s XI by five goals to two to raise money for underprivileged kids in the Ivory Coast.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Steve McKimm says he’s feeling disappointed that Jamie Turner will not be re-joining the club as goalkeeper coach.

Turner has accepted a position at National League club Braintree Town, who are now managed by former Welling United and Ebbsfleet United boss Jamie Day.

McKimm told www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk: “Naturally I’m disappointed and somewhat frustrated that Jamie has now decided to go to a higher level club in Braintree. 

“These things unfortunately happen in football and we have to just take it on the chin.

“We of course will now again be on the look-out for a goalkeeping coach to take the place of Kevin Shrimpton, the previous holder of that position.”

WELLING UNITED boss Mark Goldberg has signed winger Pierre Joseph-Dubois, 28, from his former club Bromley.

The Frenchman scored over 50 goals for Bromley and has previously played for Hayes & Yeading and has opted to drop a division to sign for the Park View Road outfit.

Goldberg has also signed striker Bobby Devyne, 23, from Ryman Premier League side Enfield Town, where he hit the back of the net at just under a goal every two matches after joining them from Brimsdown Rovers, where he scored 15 goals in 14 games.

Central defender Rickie Hayles has joined the club from East Thurrock United, who claimed promotion into the Vanarama National League South after beating Tonbridge Angels and Dulwich Hamlet in the Ryman Premier League play-offs.

Hayles, who has previously played for Canvey Island and Lowestoft Town, scored three times last season, waiting for the play-offs to hit the back of the net.