WESTON’S hopes of making the Blue Square Premier have been bolstered thanks to the settlement of a new playing budget for next season, claims manager Craig Laird.

The dust has barely settled a week after the Seagulls finished mid-table in the Blue Square South and won the Somerset Premier Cup in a successful season for the club.

But while players begin their well-earned break, staff off the field are already busy preparing for next season, finalising a playing budget for the club.

Manager Craig Laird met chairman Paul Bliss last Wednesday to set the new budget, which the boss claims will assist the club moving forward next season.

And following the agreed settlement, Craig has already made moves to sign two strikers, both emphatic goal-scorers at their lower league clubs.

The club has opened talks with 27-year-old Chris Young, who scored seven goals last term for Bridgwater Town in the Zamaretta Division One.

Negotiations have also begun with former Southampton trainee, 28-year-old Matt Huxley, who scored 48 goals in 35 games for Oldland Abbotonians in the Toolstation Western League Division One.

Both players, Craig claims, would be good additions to the squad, which meets again for training in the last week of June.

He said: “I am very hopeful we can continue to push forward as a club with the agreed budget. I’m looking to bring in three to four new players to strengthen the side and bolster our chances of making the play-offs next season.”

However, Craig added that when players come in, some players have to go and he expected a list of retained players to be announced next week.

He said: “I’m afraid that’s the harsh reality of football - it’s a difficult time when we have to make serious decisions on players’ futures. I hope we get them right.”