JOINT manager John Snape says he is “very happy” with how his Worcester City squad are shaping up ahead of the new season.

Snape admits it is a “new start” for City who are unlikely to hang on to any of last season’s 2016-17 crop after plummeting three divisions.

But he feels they are putting together the “right ingredients” to launch an assault on the Midland League Premier Division next term.

With two months to go before the campaign gets under way the Blue and Whites have recruited 10 new players.

Snape and fellow joint boss Lee Hughes will hold first team and under 21 trials this month to bolster their team further.

“It’s a new start for the football club with the level we are at and hopefully we are bringing in the right ingredients to get us off to a good start,” Snape said.

“We have been busy. I can’t say there has not been a very big interest from the Worcester area but we have also looked at people who probably know that league and have played at that level before to give us a good foothold with their experience.

“We have got players who are proven and trusted and we have also got players who want to prove themselves at the football club so I am very happy.”

Worcester-based Brad Birch (Stourbridge), Nathan Hayward (Malvern Town), Jamie Smith (Droitwich Spa) and James Baldwin (Bishop’s Cleeve) have all joined their home-town club.

City have also recruited Albert Alexandru (Smethwick Rangers), Matt Birley (Halesowen Town), Matt Gwynne (Westfields), Josh Harris-James (Feckenham), Aaron Griffiths (Halesowen Town) and Dave Reynolds (Malvern Town).

Ex-City defender Shabir Khan will return for pre-season with a view to getting a first-team deal.

“Due to the financial constraints we want people from within a radius which makes it viable,” Snape said.

“I am not saying they are the best players but they are local and are what we can afford.”

Despite the best efforts of scout Aaron White Snape admitted cash-strapped City had suffered setbacks in their recruitment process.

“To be fair we have had some ups and downs but overall it has been very positive,” Snape added.

“There are some people who made it quite clear they want to play for the club which has made financial negotiations a lot easier.

“But on the other side of the coin there are other people who think Worcester are at Conference North level who want finances we have not been able to achieve.

“There have been positives in getting the right sort of players but the financial requirements have obviously put a lid on things.”

Snape hopes to retain the services of captain Danny Jackman, full-back Tyler Weir, goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan, centre-back Sam Oji, right-back Andy Gallinagh and striker Joe Bates who have all been offered terms.

However, he has given them until the end of this week to decide whether they want to stay at Worcester.