FOOTBALL: Millers put faith in quartet (From Witney Gazette)

FOOTBALL: Millers put faith in quartet

7:04pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Local Football

North Leigh boss Mark Gee hopes former Cambridge City striker Mitchell Bryant and ex-Forest Green midfielder Wayne Turk will help them to promotion after they joined the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West side, writes Nick Farrant.

Last season, North Leigh just missed out on the play-offs for the second year running, and Gee believes the signings can help make it third time lucky.

Bryant, 21, a pacy frontman, started his career at Manchester United’s academy before joining Reading as a first-year professional in 2008, where he played in the Royals’ reserves side.

He later had spells at Gloucester City, Hungerford Town, Banbury United, Swindon Supermarine and Cirencester before making the move to Cambridge where he was a member of the side that lost 1-0 against Oxford City in the Premier Division play-off semi-final.

After leaving Forest Green from where he also had a loan spell at Newport County, Turk, 31, signed for Salisbury where he played for seven years.

He is joined by former Cirencester players forward John Else and defender Zak Westlake, while centre half Owen Collins has returned to the North Leigh.

Gee said he was very excited about his new acquisitions, which will make up for the loss of Elliott Osborne-Ricketts, Morgan Williams and Brian Bowles to rivals Didcot Town.

Gee added that all the players remaining from last season’s campaign had agreed to stay, while Andy Caton is expected to sign this week.

“They are all very positive signings,” said Gee.

“Like all of us, the chairman (Pete King) was disappointed that we lost those players, but he has backed us with these new players.

“In Bryant, we have picked up a quality striker and a top, top player in Turk.

“We have also brought in Malcolm McIntosh as first-team coach, who will add his extra experience on the training ground and also in the dressing room.”

Gee said he had deliberately set out to get the signings done earlier as part of his pre-season strategy.

“We have fallen short in the last two seasons, which is down to having a very small squad, a lack of pre-season preparation and injuries.

“We felt this year we wanted to complete the signings early and get in plenty of friendlies. We want to hit the ground running.

“We have organised some friendlies against the likes of Forest Green, Eastleigh and Gosport Borough aimed at testing us against some professional teams.

“Everyone is buzzing.”