Louis Axcell remains on the hunt to bolster his Maltby Main side before the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division season begins on July 31st.
Axcell has been relatively quiet this summer with only AFC Mansfield trio Ben Algar, Liam Marsden and Hugo Warhurst being new signings along with ex-Stocksbridge Park Steels youngster Brandon Whitfield.
But with the need for clubs to have big squads for various reasons, Axcell isn’t finished.
“I’m reasonably happy,” Axcell told Non League Yorkshire.
“We have had a couple of trialists who will probably sign…the three from AFC Mansfield were targets anyway.
“It is great to have Ben Algar back, Liam Marsden has been great since he came in and Hugo is a fantastic ‘keeper.
“We’re still on the lookout for other players.
“We do need more players as you’re seeing at the minute (pre-season) games are getting called off and we don’t want to be travelling with less than three subs.
“We’ve probably got 16 or 17 who are regular players and it only takes a couple of injuries (for numbers to go down).
“Reggie (Waud) has come on trial. By his own admission he’s not really fit at the moment but he’s obviously got ability and he proved that as a 17-year-old at Hall Road and Goole.
“He scored a lot of goals.
“He’s doing well and he’s lively. He just needs to get fit, but I think he could be an asset.
“Young Brandon played for Stocksbridge Development last year and he’s come in and done really well as he has come off the bench in three games and scored three goals.”
Maltby’s home game is due to be the away trip to Garforth Town.
Fears are growing over potential disruption due to the rise in daily cases.
Axcell hopes Non League Football won’t be affected and has urged everyone involved in the game to be “flexible” to get matches played.
“I think there has to be a change in the system because there is obviously issues with the track and trace and there’s clearly healthy people self-isolating,” he said.
“I think it is an issue.
“I tweeted the other day about if you are double-jabbed you don’t have to isolate from August 16th (if you have come into contact who has tested positive) – that will mean if players are double-jabbed they will be available.
“I think we need to be careful (going forward) and hope we can get (the season) going because it would be a travesty if not.
“I think the league need to get as many games in as they can early on in terms of the midweek games (just in-case of problems in the winter).
“I think the league need to be proactive at the last minute so if two or three games are off at the last minute I think there needs to be quick rearrangements on that day.
“For example if two fixtures are off, can they get two teams together to play on that day?
“I think everyone needs to show flexibility and a bit of appreciation of the situation.
“I also think people shouldn’t use (the pandemic) as an excuse to get games called off.
“I think the league need to be really stringent because to me it seems really easy to get a game called off.
“We proved last season when we had (striker Jonathan Hill) Hillsy in net a few times we travelled with 12 players (that we were willing to get games played despite low numbers).
“I think everyone needs to do that if need be because the more games called off the more pressure that puts on the league.”