NEIL YOUNG admitted most of his close season restructuring work had been completed ahead of Chester’s Northern Premier Division campaign.
The Blues boss has signed seven new players since Chester’s Division One North title-winning success and he revealed that he was now close to finalising his squad.
Young has secured the services of ex-Chester City goalkeeper John Danby, Liam Brownhill and Alex Brown from Droylsden, Jerome Wright from FC United of Manchester, Jamie Rainford from Marine, Mark Reed from Buxton, and Matty McNeil from Southport.
“I’ve made seven new signings, but I’m hoping to bring in two more players before our first pre-season training session takes place next Thursday,” Young said.
“I’m close to signing a right-sided midfielder and I’m hoping to bring in a left sided full back, but I want to see everything done before we return to training next Thursday.
“It has been difficult trying to bring in the players I have wanted, but Steven Akrigg at Skelmersdale United was the only player I failed to sign.
“I feel the bulk of the work I intended to get through during the close season has already been completed.
“I don’t think any other club in our league has strengthened in the same way Chester has, but my remit as manager and to myself is to win the league title.
“The club has big aspirations and everybody is working their socks off to achieve our objective. We’re not just going into the Northern Premier Division to make up the numbers.”
Young is pleased he has been presented with the time and a budget to assemble a squad that he believes can challenge for back-to-back promotions.
He added: “My pre-season this time round was a lot more workable than this time last year.
“It was a huge disadvantage last year to start the Chester job on June 13 and have to bring a side together not knowing what league we were going to be in until July.
“But it was a great credit to the players I worked with that we managed to achieve promotion after such a short pre-season.”
Young admitted he had been delighted with the acquisitions he had made in readiness for the new campaign.
He added: “I’ve always been a big believer in having players in my squad who can score goals.
“We have no shortage of firepower in the team for the season ahead with Mark Reed and Jamie Rainford competing for a place in our forward line along with Michael Wilde and Chris Simm.
“The four players scored more than 100 goals in total last season and I’m confident they can do the business at Chester this time round.
“I’m also pleased we’ve managed to sign experienced goalkeeper John Danby who is no stranger to Chester.
“John is a massive signing for us because he was my number one target and I’m looking forward to seeing him work alongside Adam Judge.”
Bala Town have been linked with Chester defender Stuart Jones.
“We have tried to sign Stuart,” said Bala boss Colin Caton, who had another former Blues star, Mark Connolly, on loan at The Lakesiders last season.
“We made an approach for him and hopefully, in the next two weeks, we hope to get him.”