Hollands hails fab four as Bognor Regis Town’s 2026-27 squad starts to take shape
Danny Hollands has lifted the lid on the reasons behind his move to secure his first tranche of players as he shapes his Bognor Regis Town squad ahead of next season.
Tommy Block, Charlie Glasspool, Lennie Smith and Kaya Tshaka put pen to paper to sign for Rocks manager Hollands last week -- with news expected soon of more players committing to the cause.
Young striker Glasspool was brought in after Hollands moved in to the hot seat — and oversaw a 10-match unbeaten run that left them 11th in the table — and did enough to impress the gaffer. And Hollands said: “There has been a lot of interest in Charlie and we were really pleased to get him over the line.
“We saw last season in a short period that he could step up to step four. He got two goals in five games and the more minutes he played, the better he looked. It's going to be a big season for him and he will want to hit the ground running and be a regular part of the team. He can play as a nine or a ten he can play with a big man up front alongside him or as a single centre forward. He has a lot of strings to his bow and an exciting player to get over the line.”
Another youngster to make his mark was youth product Smith. Hollands says he is hopeful the speedy attacker can continue to flourish.
He added: “Lennie is another youngster that has been given a chance and he has done very, very well. He has got bundles of energy and he gets fans on the edge of their seats and again, it's going to be a big season for him.
“He wants to improve on last season in terms of goal contributions and he has shown that he does get the chances and he does create, so he is another good player for us to get on board and I am pleased he wants to stay and be part of something.”
Of Kshaka, Hollands says his versatility is a big asset. He said: “Kaya had interest from step 3 clubs so it shows his commitment to the club to come down and be part of something with us. He was a big part of what we did over the 10 games (we had in charge) and he scored some vital goals for us.
"He played as a 10, played as a deeper midfielder and he even played left-back so, obviously, he is very versatile. Probably the biggest compliment I can give him is that he is a very likeable character, he gets on with everyone in the squad and does a great job for us. His attitude is second to none and he will be a big player for us next season.”
Meanwhile the experience and ability that comes with Block made the decision to keep him at Nyewood Lane a no-brainer. And Hollands added: “Tommy can be a pivotal player for us, there is no question about it. People know the (fitness) challenges we have with Tommy but that is not down to any fault of his own. We have got to do our bit for him as well, and help him by making sure he is on the pitch -- and when he is on the pitch he is massive for the club.
“He is better than the level we are at, whether that is playing as a centre half or a central midfielder. He is a leader, he sets the example and if people need telling, he tells them. He knows what the club is about, he is local lad and he wants to see this club be successful so I am glad that we have got him back on board.”