Manager provides update on players and recruitment

Warrington Town manager Paul Carden has provided an update on the squad, as pre-season training continues to ramp up ahead of the start of the season next month.

With a date now in the diary for the first game of the season, preparations have stepped up – with the squad now reverting to a more usual training schedule having been training every Saturday in small groups since the beginning of July.

Part of the group has been defender David Raven, who will be given time to make a decision as to whether he wants to play on in 2020/21.

Another player contemplating whether to play on is versatile Shaun Beeley, but Fisayo Adarabioyo hasn’t returned and is close to signing with a National League North club.

The door remains open for midfielder Dylan Vassallo, also currently training with a club in the division above.

Following the departure of long-serving Tony McMillan, a couple of goalkeepers have taken part in sessions so far, while the club is also keeping an eye on player movement in the leagues above.

Carden said: “Dave is going to see how he does and how he feels in pre-season. It’s going to be further down the line before he makes his decision.

“I don’t think he’ll ever not be fit enough, it’s more about not just doing the team justice, but doing himself justice. He’s been such a good player and had such a good career, the decision is completely up to him.

“We’re still in touch with Shaun and while I don’t think he wants to pack football in, he’s got a few things to weigh up with work.

“We’ve spoke to and sounded out a few goalkeepers who are waiting to see what options they’ve got, but we’ve got plenty bubbling away and we’ll make a decision at the right time.

“I’m quite relaxed over it all. We’ve got lists of players but they mean nothing, we could have Ronaldo or Messi on those lists, it doesn’t mean we can get them!

“Obviously goalkeeper is the key position but after that but I’m quite relaxed so I know I can be selective.”

Carden has been happy with how the squad have returned, with fitness levels better than expected, despite being out of action until the win over Matlock Town in March. That has enabled more of a focus on football in training so far.

He added: “We’ve done ball work all the time. We’ve worked them really hard, and I believe in hard work, but we’ve just gradually increased it. I didn’t want to have them on egg shells about pre-season, and didn’t want to get them back for four weeks getting flogged when there’s still another six weeks until the season.

“They’ve all come back looking good, they look fit and strong, so pleased about that. I know I can approach pre-season as I would normally.”