Youth The Key Next Season

Steve Holland envisages that the team will largely be built around youth players next season. The first team coach feels that this year’s U-18s have done so well this season that a lot of them could be pushing into the side next term. Holland also hopes to see the likes of Shaun Miller and Byron Moore play an even bigger part next season.

The Dutchman was speaking after news that veteran of the side Neil Cox would be retiring from the game this summer, leaving just two players over the age of 26 in contract for next season, Ryan Lowe and Julien Baudet. Holland is open to the possibility of signing another token veteran this summer but believes the U-23 players are where the team can be built.

Speaking to SuperAlex.co.uk Holland said: ‘Quite possibly, we’ll try to bring in another player like him next season.

‘We’ll also be signing half-a-dozen boys from our academy. The youth team this year has been as strong as we’ve had for a while and the opportunity will be there for those players. That will need to be added to with one or two players in the positions we need to strengthen.

‘The likes of Shaun Miller and Byron Moore should be better players next year for the experience they’ve had this year.’