Weston aim to keep every player for next season
WESTON boss Craig Laird wants to keep every player in his squad as he prepares for another season in the Blue Square South.
At a time when many clubs are cutting back on their playing staff, Craig is attempting to buck the trend after securing an increase in salary budget from chairman Paul Bliss.
The manager has this week sent out part-time contract offers to all his players in a bid to keep the team together.
Craig said: “I think this is a reward for how well the team have played together this season.
“We did better than everyone expected and I want to keep that momentum and move forward with the great team spirit we have here.
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“When I first joined I took on the job of building a group of players into a successful side, this is all about continuing that.”
But Craig, who led Weston to a record-high 12th finish in Blue Square South and a Somerset Cup win, admits he will be lucky to keep every player.
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He said: “If we keep 90 per cent of the players I will be happy.
“It is not that players want to move on, but because they can not continue to commit their time for financial reasons.”
Meanwhile, Craig said he is ‘very close’ to securing the signatures of 27-year-old Chris Young and 28-year-old Matt Huxley.
Last week, the Mercury revealed the club was in talks with Young, of Bridgwater Town, and Huxley, of Oldland Abbotonians.
