BRENTWOOD: Town swoop for five players

By dward

BRENTWOOD Town have gone for experience with five new signings and a sixth in the pipeline as manager Carl Griffiths bids to avoid a repeat of last season's bitterly disappointing Ryman League Division One North play-off defeat.

In comes the vastly experienced midfield/ defender Steve Heffer from Billericay Town, who has played for both Thurrock and Dagenham & Redbridge, and he will link up with another ex-New Lodge colleague from last season, Tim Cole, who had signed on at the Arena over a month ago.

Other experienced players joining Griffiths is midfielder Lee Williams, club captain last season at East Thurrock United, and midfielder Paul Shave who was at both Aveley and Billericay Town last season.

Also signing on is winger Bradley Barnes, a regular in last season's promotion side at Aveley, while re-signing for the club is utility player Steve King, who spent most of last season at Bishop's Stortford, although he returned on loan for the final month of the campaign.

And last night (Tuesday) as Griffiths, and his assistant Scott Canham, took their first pre-season training session, they were expecting to complete the signing of an experienced striker.

"I believe that these are the kind of experienced players we need if we are to make and sustain a serious promotion bid this coming season," Griffiths said. "The defeat in last season's play-off semi-final taught me a lot and showed that you need experienced players, certainly in those kind of situations.

"They know how to cope with the kind of football we faced.

"They don't freeze, they're not frightened or put off and they'll roll their sleeves up and win individual battles which is important."

Griffiths confirmed that all of last season's players had agreed to stay with the exception of Gareth Street and Nicky Symonds who both want to play with a club at a higher level.