Beard’s on the look-out to add more firepower and experience

New Loxwood manager Mark Beard is on the look-out for more firepower and has hopes of picking up a few additions from higher divisions.
Ollie Gill has remained at Loxwood despite training with Barnet in pre-seasonOllie Gill has remained at Loxwood despite training with Barnet in pre-season
Ollie Gill has remained at Loxwood despite training with Barnet in pre-season

The former Millwall player and ex-Crawley Town youth boss took over from Dave Cocoracchio, who has become director of football, at the Plaistow Road club at the end of last season.

Beard has instilled a busy and tough pre-season fixture schedule on his side ahead of the Southern Combination League Premier Division campaign and is pleased with how they are shaping up.

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They’ve retained the services of midfielder Ollie Gill and Sam Beard, who had been training with Barnet, whilst signing ex-Crawley youngsters Billy Woon and Cecil Gee.

Leaving the club are Tom Familton and forwards Shaun Findlay (both for Dorking Wanderers), Dean Wright and Tim Martin.

Beard said: “It’s been a challenge so far as we have had a few players leaving and I am trying to bring new players in.

“We have played mostly teams in higher divisions so far, as it’s better than playing lesser teams and winning by four or five goals.

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“We are making mistakes in pre-season that we can rectify in training and the style of football we are playing is improving every week.

“I am still looking out for a centre-forward as we are creating plenty of chances and not converting.

“We have lost four good players and three are forwards so I am going to have to replace them.

“The guys I am looking at are with clubs in higher division at the minute three are on my radar. If they do not sign up I will snap them up.”

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