Welling United boss Jamie Day ready to confirm his eighteen-man squad within ten days

The Wings open their pre-season campaign with the annual curtain raiser against League One neighbours Charlton Athletic on Saturday, but Day will be without three players for their opening warm-up game.

“We’ve had four sessions, so it’s going reasonably well,” said Day.

“We’ve had quite a lot of trialists’ that we’ve been looking at and we’ll probably nail that down in a week, ten days and we’ll see if we can add one or two from them to add to the squad.

“We’ve got three lads on holiday’s as well, we’ll be missing Anthony Acheampong, Joe Healy and Ben Martin, so we’re down to a bare eleven so those eleven will get a good 60 minutes and then the last half-an-hour we’ll be looking at the better ones (trialists) and see how they cope playing a game like this.

“It’s a good opportunity for them as well.  It will be a decent crowd, and one they should enjoy.”

Erith Town manager, Tony Russell, revealed earlier in the week that eighteen-year-old midfielder Liam Burgess is on trial at Park View Road.

“Liam’s done alright in the four sessions that we’ve seen he’s done reasonably well,” revealed Day.

“He’s a little lightweight, but I think we’re going to work with younger players.  If their lightweight it doesn’t matter, they just need the ability.

“He could be one who could be involved on Saturday and it’s down to Liam to show us what he can do.”

Day added: “This time of the year the younger players who get released from pro clubs and are looking for a club to get some games.

“This is their chance now to show what level they should be playing at week in, week out, people like Liam, who have dropped out of the game.  It’s an opportunity for them to try to take.

“We’ve had thirty trialists in and there’s a lot of boys in the same position.”

Day revealed that teenagers Oliver Poole and Quentin Conteh have been signed so he will be working with an eighteen-man squad.

He said: “I’ve drafted in two of my college lads, who I quite like and they’ll make up a squad of eighteen and we’ll go with that for as long as possible. 

Speaking about striker Conteh, who played Kent League football for Beckenham Town last season, Day said: “He done reasonably well, scored a few goals, so we’ve picked him up to our level and see how he gets on.

“Oliver is at our college, we’ve picked him up, he got released at Millwall at sixteen.  He’s a centre half, we’ll work with him and we’ll see how we gets on during the year.”

Day revealed the last member of last season’s squad to be signed up will be Andy Sambrook.

“We’re hoping we can sort out a deal with Sambrook in the next ten days and then we’ll pick two (trailists).  We’ve got a little bit of money left, not a massive amount, to pick two younger lads and with the two college lads to make an eighteen-man squad.

“We’ll have fourteen hopefully from last year and the rest will be young and eager to go.”

Welling United will be working with a reduced budget this season.

Day said: “The club has obviously learnt from last season and I’d like to think we’re going in the right direction.  There has been a cut to the budget, which has had an effect on players but it’s done for the right reasons, so we don’t get into the same situation like in previous years’ gone by.”

The club advise supporters, where possible, to buy tickets in advance for this game and also arrive early on Saturday in a bid to reduce the queues prior to kick-off.

Tickets can be obtained from the club office on Friday between 9:30am and 5pm.

Prices are £12 for adults and £7 for under 16s and over 60s, with an additional £2 for seats.

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com