Mark makes moves (From Warrington Guardian)

Mark makes moves

NORTHWICH Vics manager Mark Gardiner has started his summer reshuffle.

He has released Dean Greygoose, Carwyn Williams and Jamie Webster and targeted two midfielders as he bids to transform Vics into a trophy-winning team.

"We have got some good players down here but we will need a few more," said Gardiner. "That all depends on the budget.

"The squad currently stands at 14 but I want at least 18 quality players as well as encouraging the youngsters already at the club."

The departing trio brings the number of players leaving The Drill Field this summer to five. The loss of first-team regulars Tait and Duffy - the latter for a nominal fee to Canvey Island - has been the biggest blow but Gardiner is already eyeing up replacements.

The pair, both midfielders, are currently playing non-league football in the north west, one of them in the Conference, and have attracted attention from a number of Vics' rivals.

Gardiner has approached both players and is waiting for a response. But he is adamant that his remaining players can capture success - providing they're fit.

"What the team will benefit from is getting Ian Cooke and Val Owen all back to full fitness. That will be like two new signings straight away.

"A fully fit Steve Walters will be another bonus to us. Unfortunately Steve has had a number of problems that has meant we didn't see him at his best last season. Hopefully next season we will," he added.

Owen missed most of the second half of last season with cruciate ligament problems while Cooke struggled through the campaign with a niggling ankle injury.

Gardiner also believes he already has a replacement for Tait.

"It's up to Cooke, Neil Illman and Nathan Peel to prove that they can do a job up front and at the moment it's between two of them. However, one of the players I am looking at can fill a striker's role as well as play in midfield."

Gardiner will call his players back to the Drill Field for pre-season training on July 1 determined to improve on last season's seventh place.

"We had a good record against the teams which finished above us," he said.

"We need to make sure we can pick up points away even when we're not playing well."

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