ROGERS TO SIGN A MIDFIELD STAR

TIVERTON Town manager Martyn Rogers is closing in on the signing of a midfielder he says will light up the Southern League.

Rogers has been in talks with the player over the last few weeks and he hopes a deal can be agreed within days.

The Tivvy boss would not reveal the identity of the player or who he currently plays for but he was happy to describe his target as 'absolute quality'.

And, if all goes to plan, the player will be in a yellow shirt by the start of next season.

"I am expecting a phone call and hopefully we will get the thing sewn up," said Rogers.

"He is a midfielder of a really high standard. As far as I'm concerned he could, and possibly should, be playing in the Football League.

"He has shown an interest in joining and I am expecting to get it all sorted out this week.

"I'll be really pleased if I can get him because he is absolute quality and, if it all goes smoothly, he will be one of the best players in our league."

Rogers is expecting the majority of last season's squad to sign up for another year at Ladysmead.

He added: "I'll begin talking to them when we come back in for training but I can't see there being wholesale changes.

"I want to keep the majority of the players that are here already so I can't see many of them, if any of them, going.

"But we'll have to wait and see what the outcome of talks will be so we can look to next season."

Meanwhile, Rogers has confirmed the club's pre-season programme.

The Yellows have a host of attractive friendlies including ones against League Two Yeovil Town and Conference South outfit Weymouth.

And Rogers says the first week of friendlies — where his side will play four games in six days — will prove crucial to the Yellows' pre-season preparations.

"It is important to get the players on the pitch because you can do all the training in the world and still not be ready for that first league game," said the Tiverton manager.

"It will be a really tough week for them but they will come through it fitter and stronger.

"We've got a really varied programme and that will be good for the lads — to play their own game and not worry about whether the opposition are in a higher or a lower league than us."

Tiverton's pre-season programme starts with a friendly at home to Weymouth (July 18) and then the Yellows entertain Elmore (July 20) before trips to Cullompton Rangers ( July 22) and Buckland Athletic ( July 24).

They then play Plymouth Parkway at home (July 29) before trips to Yeovil (August 1) and Paulton Rovers (August 8).