Town squad to be in place for pre-season
Neil Aspin is confident his new-look squad will be in place by the time FC Halifax Town return to pre-season training next weekend. Halifax have confirmed the signings of Dan Maguire, Elliott Whitehouse, Sam Walker and Josh Macdonald so far, but the Town boss says there are more new faces to come and expects to be working with a squad of 18 or 19 players.
“The players we’ve announced so far are younger players with a point to prove,” he said.
“But I’m well aware that we need some more experienced players as well.
“Hopefully the next players we announce will be tried and tested players with a presence in the dressing room, which I feel is what we need.
“There are players we’ve signed that we can’t announce at the moment but what I can say is that for every player that leaves there will be a replacement.”
Aspin admitted he was dis- appointed to lose Marc Roberts and Lois Maynard after they joined Barnsley and Tranmere respectively, but he has called on the Town fans to put their faith in Town’s revamped side.
“We needed to freshen things up,” said Aspin. “There are some players I would like to have kept, such as Marc Roberts and Lois Maynard.
“But there is no way you can stop Marc going to Barnsley and with Lois, we’re not in the position to pay what Tranmere can offer.
“But we needed to make changes and hopefully the supporters will get enthused by seeing some new faces.
“We need everybody to get behind us and for the fans to support the new players and give them a chance to do well.”
The Town chief also empathised with Matt Pearson’s decision to join League Two side Accrington Stanley.
Aspin said: “Matty had a chance to go back to the Football League, but I spoke to him and said I would like to keep him.”
“But he’d made his mind up and it’s difficult to stand in someone’s way when they want full-time football.
“The lure of full-time football will always be a problem when you’re a part-time club But you can understand it from the players’ point of view.”
But Aspin is remaining tight-lipped about who else will be leaving the club.
“I don’t want to minimise the chances of players getting fixed-up elsewhere by saying they’ve been released, which would weaken their bargaining position. I always try and help any player in this situation by trying to get them a move to another club if I can.”