Technogroup Welshpool have swooped quickly to sign released Guilsfield pair Matt Newton and Mike Sewtell and are planning an audacious raid to snatch the club’s star striker Ross Frame.
Experienced duo Newton and Sewtell fell victim this week to manager Russell Cadwallader’s cull of his overstaffed squad but will not be signed in time for Welshpool’s big match with Rhydymwyn tomorrow.
But it is the club’s bid for Frame (right), one of the hottest young properties in Welsh football, which will come as a huge shock.
New manager Chris Herbert, said: “He is a good striker with a high work rate and his goalscoring record this season is very good considering he is playing near the bottom of the league. I thought he was their main player when I played against them for Gap Connahs Quay.”
Herbert is believed to have had an initial chat with the Cardiff student after the seven-day notice of approach expired yesterday but Cadwallader is confident that Frame is going nowhere, joking: “He’s a local lad so he doesn’t really fit Welshpool's criteria!”
Meanwhile, Herbert has also secured the services of strikers Danny Davies, from Christleton, and James Hussaney, from Cefn Druids who was previously with Notts County. Full back Robbie Dean arrives from Cheshire side Upton AA while 18 year-old Jack Pickering has signed from Vauxhall Motors and has chosen Welshpool ahead of a clutch of Alliance rivals.
“He was offered far better terms at other clubs but I convinced him to come to Welshpool,” said Herbert. “He is currently on trial at Manchester City who are hugely impressed with him. He is very highly regarded around Cheshire, and now he wants to try his hand in Wales. I’m expecting very big things from him, and he will become a fans’ favourite with his never say die attitude.”
Herbert was heartened by his side’s first point in two months last week and is confident that tomorrow, weather permitting, will see his side secure three points against Rhydymwyn.
“I’m very confident of three points, as long as everything goes to plan,” he said. “The only doubt is Andy Webb who has a hamstring strain. The lads are up for it and feeling confident too. We had training last night and there were some new lads that came down to see what we have got and, hopefully now they have seen, they might commit to the cause.”
Three miles down the road, Cadwallader believes he is close to finding the formula that will see his Guilsfield side piece together a charge up the table.
Another narrow defeat was endured at home last weekend, meaning they have not won at home this season, but the manager saw enough positives to feel his side will have a good go at Rhyl tomorrow.
“The result was disappointing but the performance was ok,” he said: “There are signs that combinations are starting to work but the trouble is you get punished for mistakes this year that you would have got away with in last year’s Cymru Alliance.
“John Harris and Mark Davies come into the squad and the system is starting to have more of my stamp on it, and hopefully as time goes on it will gel further. These were tough decisions to make but such a large squad was prohibiting selection so I just hope they’re the right decisions! It will be tough at Rhyl but we are looking forward to it!”
Cadwallader said that should the game fall victim to the weather, the squad will be called in for training.