Former AFC Wimbledon man gives Bognor Regis Town a boost

Midfielder Olaniyan, 20, has agreed to pen a deal as Blake prepares his squad for the first pre-season training session this Monday (June 26) with an eye on a run of summer friendlies.

Olaniyan showed glimpses of what a cultured playmaker he is after joining the Nye Camp outfit last summer having previously been with AFC Wimbledon throughout his youth career. But the influential schemer suffered a blow to his aspirations when he dislocated his shoulder at Brightlingsea Regent in February and subsequently missed most of the remaining three months of the season.

Blake has already brought in six new players to strengthen his options in the shape of forward Dan Smith from Dulwich Hamlet, attacker Jasper Mather from Met Police, keeper Ryan Hall from Aldershot Town, forward Lucas Pattenden from Littlehampton Town, midfielder Ben Anderson from Horndean and defender Kieran Douglas from Dorchester Town.

Olaniyan says he feels there is unfinished business to which he has to attend in the green and white and he is fully prepared to knuckle down and get in shape for the new campaign, putting behind him his injury woes.

He added: "I’m really excited to be staying with Bognor Regis Town next season. I think myself and us as a team learnt a lot from last season and can improve for this coming season."

Blake says convincing Olaniyan to stay gives him belief that the Rocks will have the best chance possible to improve on a largely disappointing season last time of asking.

He said: "Isaac has a lot of quality and obviously had a big setback with his serious injury. But we expect him to pick up where he left off and we strongly believe there is a lot more to come from him.

"We kick things off on Monday at East Dean when we start training and it'll be good to get the new faces integrated and get to know what we expect of them. Before we know it, the friendly matches will be upon us so we have to work hard from the get-go -- we are really looking forward to it.”