Pre-season starts in earnest for new, streamlined squad (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Pre-season starts in earnest for new, streamlined squad

1:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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BASINGSTOKE Town fans will get a first chance to see their side in pre-season action this weekend.

The squad returned to training on Tuesday night and will get their friendly fixtures under way on Saturday, when Ryman Premier outfit Sutton United will travel to the Camrose (kick off 3pm).

Manager Frank Gray has already put together a squad of 15 outfield players for the upcoming season and does not expect to feature many trialists, but will use the game to have a look at a couple of goalkeeping options.

Ross Kitteridge, who was first choice between the sticks last season, has been released by Reading but would like to play at a higher level. He is on trial at a club this week and, while he could still return to the Camrose, Gray is looking at other shot stoppers.

“We have a couple of goalkeepers training with us this week and they will feature on Saturday,” the Town manager said. “If Ross goes elsewhere we will need to bring another ’keeper in.

“I am confident we will get a goalkeeper but we might leave it quite late. Obviously we could have one come in who makes us change our mind but that is the plan.”

Other than the goalkeepers, Gray does not expect to hand out many trials during pre-season – but players from the club’s title winning reserve team will get their chance to impress the manager.

“We are looking at young players from the reserves more than trialists,” he said. “There will be some triallists but we used five or six reserves last pre-season and I think we will do the same again.”

Basingstoke currently have just four friendly matches scheduled and have no game planned for next Saturday, but Gray is in the process of organising more matches to bolster his side’s pre-season campaign.

“We are hoping to get another couple of friendlies organised,” he said. “I would like to play on our free Saturday and I am sure something will happen before then.

“I always prefer it when pre-season is done and look forward to the season more but it is nice to get back because that means that the league campaign is not far away.”