Sports sign players and new head coach

Peterborough Sports have added five new players to their promotion-winning squad.

Southern League play-off final hero goalkeeper Peter Crook has turned a loan deal from Boston United into a permanent move, while former Posh defender Connor Peters, forward Kaine Felix, defender Connor Kennedy and full-back Neil Fox have also agreed terms for Sports’ first season as a National North League club.

Crucially Crook, Felix, Fox and Kennedy all have experience of step two football. Felix and Kennedy are recent skippers of Guiseley and Kettering Town respectively. Fox won the National North League title with King’s Lynn Town in the 2019-20 season.

Sports have also beefed up their backroom staff with former first-team manager, and ex-Posh and QPR defender, Chris Plummer becoming head coach. Last summer’s marquee signing Michael Gash will coach as well as play.

Lewis Webb has stepped down as Sports’ coach after helping Dean manoeuvre Sports to multiple promotions.

Dean said: “The chairman (Grant Biddle) deserves an awful lot of credit. I was panicking a few weeks ago, but he’s really come good for the club.

"We’re still a tiny club at this level, but he gives us a fighting chance against much bigger fish.

"Crooky was at the top of our target list so I was delighted to get that one done. Connor is an outstanding local prospect after 11 years at Posh, while we’ve had our eye on Kaine for a long time. He lives in Peterborough and has proven ability at the level at Boston, York City and Guiseley, where he was captain, and he’s a really good age (26).

"Connor is an proper player at the level & we’re delighted to have secured his services from Kettering Town. He is another who captained his team last season and he’ll stand up in the tough moments. He’s a leader and he’ll be a top addition.

"Neil is a left-back who played with Michael Gash at King’s Lynn when they won the National North League. He won a step three title with Buxton last season so he’s a proven winner.

"I’ve worked with Chris Plummer before and he will really help us. Added to that he’s a great guy, who enjoys a beer, it can surely only lead to happy days!

"Lewis Webb had been with us since the very beginning and has been a fantastic servant to the football club. Circumstances mean he can’t continue with us right now, but the door will always be open to him in the future.”

Chairman Biddle added: “We could easily have said ‘let's stick with those players who got us up’, but we know the step up is huge so needed to add quality across the squad.

"There are some tough decisions ahead for Jimmy, but that's what is paid to do and

he will not hesitate to make those calls.”

Sports management team: Assistant manager/ Physio: Dan Ruscillo, Head Coach: Chris Plummer, Player

Coach: Michael Gash, GK Coach: Nick Conroy, Sports Scientist: Ant Coombe, Analyst: Ammar Quadeer, Ass Analyst: Harry Howarth, Ass physio: Kelly Rayner, Kit manager: Paul Beeston

Sports will have numbers and names on the back of their shirts next season for the first time in the club’s history.

Kaine Felix