AFC Telford United will field a string of trialists in their pre-season friendlies as they bid to find a winning blend for the 2009-10 season.
The Bucks unveiled their pre-season fixture list today, with high-profile friendlies against League Two sides Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale topping the bill.
Telford will welcome the Valiants to the New Bucks Head on Tuesday, July 14 and then travel to Shrewsbury for the Shropshire Senior Cup final on Saturday, July 18.
Home games with Blue Square Premier side Chester, BGB Southern League club Nuneaton Town and Welsh Premiership outfit Llanelli are also on the programme.
Pre-season kicks-off with a trip to Shropshire neighbours Market Drayton Town on Saturday, July 11, while there is also the annual trip to Wellington Amateurs.
Telford assistant manager Larry Chambers hopes to have “three or four” new faces on board by the time the frienlies begin, but also confirmed several trialists would get the chance to shine.
“I’d imagine there will be five or six trialists involved,” he said.
“This year there are so many players available that we don’t have to rush and we are in a position to invite people for pre-season and see what they can do.
“I think it has to be the way forward. We have identified our targets and I think there will be three or four signings, but the trialists give us the option to bring one or two more in late on.
“The people on trial won’t be dummies either, they will be decent players who we think could do a job.”
On the pre-season fixture list, Chambers added: “Seven games is probably just about right and there is a good mixture there for us.
“At one time we thought we might get Wolves and Leicester but, for one reason or another, it’s not happened.
“Still, there are some good games that will be a decent test for us.”
By CHRIS HUDSON
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