FORMER youth prospect Joe Bates and senior stars Nathan Hayward and Mark Smith are among the Worcester City targets set to hold talks with manager John Snape tonight.

Worcester-based striker Bates had agreed terms for City’s first season in the Midland Football League (MFL) but left for Bishop’s Cleeve in July having felt he would not be first choice.

Cleeve plied their trade at the level above City’s last term with Bates scoring 14 goals despite the Mitres getting relegated from Southern League West. He reportedly rejected the overtures of Bromsgrove Sporting in November.

“We have held initial talks and will have another chat this week,” Snape confirmed.

“He is a forward who is quite flexible, he has been a part of the club in the past and knows how we work. I am interested to gather his thoughts on the coming season.”

Centre-half Smith, recruited last summer having won the MFL Premier Division with Alvechurch, steadily established himself in the heart of City’s defence and made 41 appearances.

His partnership with Jordan Stoddart flourished as the season progressed with Snape stating talks had “gone well” but that Smith wanted “time to think about his future”.

Hayward, another Worcester-based player, joined from Malvern Town 12 months ago and played 42 times. He was entrusted with the captain’s armband on 15 occasions and was named manager’s player of the season alongside Alex Tomkinson with Snape keen to retain his services of his "big target".

The trio will be joined by rookie striker Aaron Brett, who enjoyed a promising start before injury curtailed his campaign as Snape looks to add to a nine-strong squad on the back of snapping up goalkeeper Lewis Gwilliams from Alvechurch.

On his new stopper, Snape said: “I was alerted to the fact Lewis wanted to establish himself as a number one. He was in and out at Alvechurch last season.

“Lewis is excellent with his feet and can start and change the play out from the back with the distance he can kick.

“He is six-foot-three with a huge presence and will hopefully add good competition for places when we decide on our best team during pre-season. He knows he will have to challenge for the shirt with Matt Gwynne.

“To compare the two would be unfair at this stage. I want to assess both lads properly during pre-season but having two options will hopefully help us to keep more clean sheets and give us the platform to carry a greater offensive threat.

“We had too many goalkeepers last season. I want stability in that position and we have two lads who will fight it out for starts while backing up one another.

“We’re also delighted that people at higher levels still see the club in a positive light and as a place where they can push on to win leagues.”