CINDERFORD Town’s recruitment drive this summer has not just consisted of getting players to put pen to paper.

The Causeway club have brought in a new face to the coaching staff with former Newport County goalkeeping coach Ryan Mackerness the latest appointment.

Mackerness, who helped Justin Edinburgh’s Newport side to promotion to the Football League, has been installed as goalkeeper and first team coach alongside manager Paul Michael, assistant Andrew Smith and physio Kevin Brain.

“We are delighted to have Ryan on board as he will have a huge impact on the club and hopefully the wider community,” Michael said.

“First and foremost we can be assured that Alex Harris, and any other keepers that come into the club, will receive the very highest standard of goalkeeper coaching.

“Ryan is also first team coach because he will lead on monitoring defensive positioning and protection away from the ball whilst we are in possession as well as leading on defensive set pieces.”

Mackerness said he was ’delighted’ to join a ’forward thinking and ambitious club’.

“The manager is very forward thinking and meticulous in his preparation which aligns with how I work,” he said.

“He is putting together an exciting squad.

“I already have a good relationship with Alex Harris who I have worked with on and off since he was 13 so it will be great to work with him in a club environment for the first time.

“He has fantastic work ethic, which has helped him get the reputation as one of the best at this level.

“I also want to help all the goalkeepers at the club, and put something in place that will make it the elite developer of goalkeepers outside the football league in the area.”

On the playing side, young defender Nick Grimes has been announced as next season’s captain.

“I’m really pleased to have been given the captaincy, and really excited for what next season will hold,” he said.

“Being captain is another great step for me to take at the age of 20, and I feel when working under Paul and Smudge I’m only going to develop more and more.”

Grimes joins Harris, Blaine Waugh, Nick Rhodes, Liam Angel, Jack Alderdice, Matt Macdonald, Dan Macdonald, Ben Watkins, Lorcan Sheehan, Robbie Atkinson, Lewis Bamford, Richard Greaves, Craig Norman and James Harding as players who have committed to Town for next season.