ASSISTANT manager Mark Beesley believes Warrington Town are "looking strong" in terms of defensive depth.

Yellows have signed three new defenders ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, with Evan Gumbs the latest addition to join Callum Grogan and Joel Amado.

Centre-half Matt Regan was also registered just before the 2019-20 campaign was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic.

With skipper Mark Roberts also staying put and Dave Raven weighing up whether or not to carry on playing, it gives manager Paul Carden the flexibility to change formation to one incorporating three central defenders should he wish and also refocus on recruitment further up the field.

“It’s something we were looking at doing towards the end of last year and its something we’ve spoken about again,” Beesley said of a potential change of shape.

“We’ve brought in some really good defensive players alongside the ones we already had. We feel now that department is strong.

“We’re ready to make one or two more additions further up the field then we won’t be too far away.”

Versatile 23-year-old Gumbs – equally comfortable at right-back and in midfield as well as at centre-half – has joined the club permanently having been released by Tranmere Rovers following an injury-plagued two years.

Gumbs has enjoyed three separate loan spells at Cantilever Park and Beesley says being in a familiar environment under himself and Carden will only help him as he rebuilds.

Warrington Guardian:

Evan Gumbs is back at Warrington Town. Picture by John Hopkins

“Paul spoke to him at length on numerous occasions and one thing Evan can be sure of is that we’ll look after him,” he said.

“He knows us and we know him and his history

“ If we think he needs a breather or needs pushing, we’ll speak to him and make the right decision to help him.

“We’ll make sure he’s ready to go when the season starts.”

With the current coronavirus restrictions in place, getting the squad ready for the new campaign has been a challenge like no other.

Their first pre-season friendly is on Saturday – a behind-closed-doors fixture against Skelmersdale United – as they move preparations up a gear.

“We said we would do six “pre pre-season” sessions. Half of them were socially distanced so we had to be really mindful of numbers and things like that,” Beesley said.

“Restrictions were lifted for the last couple so we were able to do a bit more contact training, which was good for the lads.

“We gave them a week off so they could have a bit of a break, both physically and psychologically.

“They know that now they’re back, we’re ready to go and we’ve got games straight away.

“The lads are fit anyway and the guys we have brought in really look after their fitness. That was one of our key areas when we were recruiting.”