FRANK Gray does not expect to add any more outfield players to his squad for the coming season – but is still waiting on goalkeeper Ross Kitteridge.

The Basingstoke Town manager secured the signature of Ryan Stephens earlier in the week, the striker putting pen to paper on a one-year deal at the Camrose.

Defender Sean Hankin signed a similar contract last week and Lewis Christon, Matt Finlay, Jide Ogunbote, Ian Jones and Adam Aimable have all officially joined the club on non-contract terms.

As a result, the Town first team squad is now 15 players strong and Gray does not anticipate any new arrivals, other than a goalkeeper.

“We are almost there now with what we have got,” he said. “When we bring a goalkeeper in we will have 16 players in the first team squad and that will be complemented by two or three players from the reserves, when we need them.”

In terms of goalkeepers, Kitteridge started Saturday’s friendly match against Sutton but has been on trial at Blue Square Premier outfit Grays this week. He played 12 minutes against West Ham on Sunday and also came on as a substitute against the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night.

“We are still looking at the goalkeeping situation,” Gray said. “If Ross is not available we have irons in the fire so we will decide as and when we know what is happening.”

Town are without a game this weekend but Gray thinks that this might be a good thing as he has a number of injury worries.

Matt Warner has been for a scan on his knee after picking up an injury in training, while Rob Watkins and Jide Ogunbote suffered dead legs during the 1-1 draw with Sutton on Saturday. In addition, Adam Aimable has been struggling with a sore knee, while Robert Rice has gone down with tonsillitis.

In other news, it has been announced that board member David Partridge is to become the club’s general manager, overseeing the day-to-day running of the club, including financial and commercial matters, while continuing to act as press officer and programme editor.

He will start next month, doing the job on a full-time basis, but will not receive a salary, either from the club or chairman Rafi Razzak.

“I got the opportunity to do this because I am taking a year out of work and it is something I feel the club needs,” Partridge said.

“Hopefully I can help take the club forward and my main aim is to help the club financially by increasing sponsorship and attendances.”

He will work on the sponsorship side with new commercial manager John Gaston, who was appointed earlier in the summer.