EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry has announced a quartet of signings for the new Ryman Premier League season.
The Rocks boss has brought back two former players and signed two exciting young prospects as he plots the new campaign.
Centre back Rickie Hayles, 31, briefly played at Rookery Hill four years ago and has since played with a number of clubs, including last season with Conference South sides Lowestoft and Bishops Stortford.
Also making a return is free-scoring winger Kris Newby, 27, who has been signed from AFC Sudbury, who he helped to the Ryman North play-offs last season. Newby, whose career has fluctuated through a number of highs and lows, has been likened to a prodigal son at Rocks. His relationship with Coventry goes back to his days when he played alongside the manager’s son in a local cubs side as a seven-year-old.
Centre-back Ryan Scott, 21, and left-sided defender/midfielder Tom Wraight, 20, are highly promising young players but both arrive at Rookery Hill with plenty of senior experience. Scott was a virtual ever-present for Billericay Town last season, while Wraight was impressive enough at Witham Town to earn a lengthy trial with Ipswich Town.
Coventry said he was delighted to have attracted such high calibre players to strengthen his squad which already includes a significant number of experienced players including last season’s top-scorer in non-League football, Sam Higgins,
All smiles: Joe Keith, Rickie Hayles and John Coventry
All smiles: Joe Keith, Rickie Hayles and John Coventry
“Signing Rickie, Kris, Ryan and Tom gives us strength in depth and together with those from last season who have chosen to stay we will be going into the new campaign with probably our strongest ever squad.
“Rickie is a winner, a player who brings whole-hearted commitment and plenty of skill and together with Ryan, who has accrued a lot of experience despite his youth, they will be formidable at the heart of our defence.
Newby needs no introduction to our supporters. He has had his difficult times in his career but rarely is his footballing ability questioned. Not only is he hard-working at both ends of the pitch and a player who creates goals, he scores too, while Tom is a very versatile and gifted young player who would be an asset to any squad at this level and possibly above.
“I am very pleased that players of this calibre have joined us and I expect to make other additions to the squad as we go into the pre-season, a number of players are coming for us to have a look at them and them to look at our club.”
Coventry also explained why he had earlier announced a list of players the club was offering terms to, saying it was to the mutual advantage of players and the club – despite the fact that a number, including keeper David Hughes, defender Tom Stephen and midfielder Connor Witherspoon have since moved on.
“We regard our players as part of our family, not commodities, and at the end of the season I felt it was important to announce to the players who did so well for us last season and to the footballing world that we had confidence in them and there was a place for them here if they wanted it.
“It gave those players security and the opportunity to consider their futures without any fear. It’s safe to say all three, who are in the early stages of their careers, have been able to find clubs where they have struck good deals and that is a credit to them. They move on with our friendship and respect and I believe their progression as players will owe much to what they have learned from our club. The fact that young, ambitious players like Ryan and Tom are willing to come and join us shows that we remain an attractive and progressive club.
“One or two people have made some silly comments on social media but everyone is entitled to an opinion. We have a way of doing things I am very happy with. Of course it’s possible other players may move on or come in between now and August 8 when the season starts for real but that’s football.
“All I can say is that I couldn’t be happier with the way things are shaping up and I hope to sign at least one more keynote player before the start of the season, while the lads who are coming in to compete for a place in the squad – including young Sammy Knott who is another up and coming player and Macauley Joynes who has just been released by Cambridge United – will give us considerable strength in depth and a pool of potential to continue developing, ”
