CHELMSFORD: Clarets set to complete further signings

By dward

CHELMSFORD City are expecting to have two new signings completed today (Thursday).

The pair will be part of four new faces to arrive at Melbourne Stadium in the coming weeks.

The club is remaining tight-lipped over the identities of the players, whose transfers have been delayed by them getting in some holiday before pre-season fully begins.

City hope they have solved one of their biggest problems from their failed Blue Square South promotion campaign of last season with the arrival of an out-and-out striker.

Danny Hockton has signed a contract for the season having previously played for the club during the 2001/02 campaign when he scored 16 goals.

Since then he has played for Crawley Town before moving on in 2003/04 to Billericay Town where he spent three seasons.

Barking-born Hockton moved on to Margate for the 2006/07 campaign where he won the Ryman League Golden Boot award after scoring 36 goals in 40 appearances.

Proving to subsequently be a bit of a journeyman Hockton, who began his career at Millwall in 1996, moved on to Bromley before ending up at Braintree Town last season.

He played 32 times for the Iron scoring 16 goals before being released from Cressing Road in May when new manager Robbie Garvey took over and decided to opt for a younger aged squad for this coming season.

Whilst City fans will be hoping the 30-year-old will be able to recapture some of his past goal scoring form, there will initially be some question marks over both his fitness, which he clearly lacked playing for the Iron at times in the latter part of last season, and whether he still has the appetite to play consistently well at Blue Square South level.

Past reputations are one thing and there's no doubt that Hockton can score goals, but City fans will wait with baited breath to see if the move can rekindle his scoring prowess to past levels.

Getting him fit and giving him the right service has to be City's priority because his is a position that was never filled last season, whatever formation the side played.

For years City have always had at least one prolific goalscorer and last season the lack of one was certainly a major factor in the side failing to win promotion.