DABBERS ADD TO THEIR SQUAD WITH SIGNING OF EX-VALIANTS

FORMER Port Vale players Ajay Leitch-smith and Ritchie Sutton have signed for Nantwich Town as the club prepares for the new season in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division. Defender Sutton, aged 36, joined Vale in 2010 from Nantwich and would go on to make 13 appearances before playing more than 100 games each at Mansfield and Tranmere and also having spells with Barrow, Morecambe, Altrincham and Alfreton.

He is rejoining Nantwich as a player coach under manager Dave Cooke, and is delighted to be back, saying: “It’s an absolute pleasure, being a local lad and living in the area, I’ve always followed their results since I left 12 years ago.

“I know some great people here, always kept in touch with the chairman and Dave, it feels good and the right thing to be back.” Manager Cooke said: “Ritchie lives locally, he’s recently completed his A licence and I think he has the makings of a great manager in future, plus his knowledge of the club from his previous spell and his years in the EFL means he can bring a wealth of experience to the squad.” Meanwhile, striker Leitchsmith, aged 32, also has plenty of Football League experience, including scoring 12 goals for Vale in the 201516 season under Rob Page. He came through the Crewe Alex academy and had six years as a first-team player there before spells with Yeovil, Vale, Shrewsbury, Dundee, Morecambe and Altrincham.

He said: “It’s great to be here, I’ve been talking to the gaffer for a while so it’s great to get it done.

“It’s good to be based back in Cheshire again, there’s a great set-up here so I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Manager Cooke added: “Ajay’s a class act, lives locally, and we hope he can slot in here.

“We think he has the potential to be one of the best strikers in this league.” Sutton and Leitch-smith arrive as part of a busy recruitment drive for the Dabbers who have also signed former Chester FC goalkeeper Louis Gray and exkidsgrove, Leyton Orient and Stafford Rangers midfielder Jack Sherratt who was a youth player at Port Vale.

· HAVE your say on all the latest local football on our dedicated facebook page which is at facebook.com/ Sentinelfootball