Lee’s had two years’ experience in Conference North with Leamington, and before that he was part of their Southern League Championship squad. He’s experienced with a great hunger for the game and a will to win, and added to that he’s very talented. He’s someone I’m very excited about having in our ranks this season.

Charlie Price has come in from Tividale…

Charlie’s a local boy who’s had two seasons with Tividale after beig with Villa as a youngster. He’s impressed me whenever I’ve seen him play. He’s got a big presence and he likes to be dominant. He’ll battle it out with Lewis Solly for the no. 1 shirt, and Lewis will push him hard.

Stuart Pierpoint – he’s a player we’ve tried to sign before?

You only have to look at his pedigree. He’s been a fantastic player for Nuneaton and then Solihull in the Conference over a good few seasons. Last time I saw him play was for Brackley against Worcester last season and I thought he was the best player on the park. He might be 32 but he’s a fitness fanatic and he’s got the leadership and organisational qualities that we’ve been looking for maybe for the last 18 months. He’s a great communicator on the pitch and he’ll make others into better players with his presence. I think he’s a big signing for us.

And a couple of new arrivals announced today from “up the road” in the shape of Kristian Green and Tom Tonks…

Two players I’m really pleased to get on board. I’ve known Kristian for a while from when he was with Gornal. He’s always impressed me. He’s had two very good seasons at Halesowen and played well against us in both games. He gets up and down the wing, whether he’s playing as a “straight” right back or more of a wing back. Everybody who you talk to speaks very highly of him and I think he’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to do this season.

Tom is a workaholic. But he’s also got bags of ability and in a lot of ways he’s a very under-rated player. As well as that, he’s an enthusiastic lad and that will rub off on others. We needed to sort out the spine of the team – that was obvious as last season went on – but we needed to bring in the right players to do that, and Tom is that kind of player. He’ll give us solidity. We’ll still have flair going forwards, but from a better base. Tom’s a key part of getting back to where we were.

How are things going with Ben Billingham?

There is absolutely no pressure on Ben at all. I’m preparing for the season without him and we’ll see how things go with his recovery. Nobody should underestimate the impact of the kind of injury Ben sustained. We’ve seen in the past with Sam Rock and Aaron Drake the effect that long-term injuries can have – albeit both of those were very different types of injury. Bens’ been working hard on his recovery and his progress so far is good, but it’s still early days. His priority is to get himself right again.

And on the other side of the coin, a few departures…

Most people will have heard that Dean Coleman and Jordan Fitzpatrick will not be with us next season. Leon Miles is also moving on, as is Josh Quaynor. Reece Hales and Tyrone Williams have both returned to Kidderminster as well after their loans.

Unfortunately from our point of view, though not his, of course, Josh Morgan-Parker is beginning a University course in Manchester, so he won’t be part of the squad. Josh developed well last season and we would have liked to hold on to him, but obviously his education comes first. You never know, if he links up with a club from that neck of the woods our paths may still cross next season!