HOLMES AND HILL TO PLUG THE GAP
TAUNTON Town are hoping Toby Holmes and Gethyn Hill can fill the goal void left by two departing stars.
In a turbulent week at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium, Peacocks fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst when skipper Matt Wright and fellow forward Andrew ‘Rocky’ Neal departed.
Plymouth-based Wright, 29, has joined Toolstation Western League Premier outfit Plymouth Parkway, while Neal, 26, headed back to former club Truro.
In addition, midfielder Ryan Brett, 29, and vice-captain Shane White, 30, also returned to Southern League Premier South rivals Truro.
If all those departures were a massive blow, it was softened by the arrival of Holmes, 27, from Salisbury, and Hill, 25, from Merthyr Town.
Head of football Rob Dray said: “I am very pleased with the capture of Toby as he has been one of the most prolific strikers in the Southern League for a while.
“Gethyn has got National League experience which was very important. He has always been a pain whenever we come up against him. He has pace, strength and knows where the goal is.
“Like the capture of Toby, he is a quality striker and I’m thrilled he has decided to join us.”
Holmes and Hill are going to have to go some to fill the boots of the influential Wright and Dean. The latter enjoyed two prolific seasons at Taunton.
Chairman Kevin Sturmey said: “We made a fantastic offer to Rocky for two years and thought he was happy to stay until the last week when the demographic changed.
“The offer he has received at Step 3 is incredible and I have always said I never blame any sports person for earning as much as they can and, naturally, players will always look at the ‘here and now’ as their careers are very short.”