WORCESTER City will be “far better equipped” to sustain a push for honours this season according to manager Ashley Vincent.

City’s squad is made up of 10 players from last term, five of whom are on contracts, and six new recruits. Two of the 2018-19 squad are set to return for pre-season.

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Defenders Adam Osbourne, Craig Jones and Nat Kelly, midfielder Aaron Birch and striker Demetri Brown and Jak Jeys are the new players committed to signing with 10 heading out of the door.

Goalkeeper Sam Gilder retired with fellow custodian Matt Gwynne heading for Pershore, defender Callum McFarlane will not be back and player-coach Mat Birley has also hung up his boots.

Frontrunners James Baldwin, Joe Bates, James Lemon, Jamal Lawrence have headed through the exit with Tyler Weir stepping up a level with Evesham United and striker Kyonn Evans choosing to leave for Malvern Town.

“There has been turnover,” said Vincent.

“I have tried to keep on board the players I thought would work in the way me, the staff and club wants going forward while adding what we were missing.

“That is nothing against the previous manager, we did what we did together. This is what we would have been doing had Snapper stayed, it just so happens I am in the seat now.

“We needed to add some experience and some winners and that is what I have done.

“Putting my neck on the line, we are far better equipped and this is a far better squad than we had at points last season.

“At the start of last season we had some really good players and you only have to look back to our unbeaten run to prove we had the nucleus of a really good side.

“I feel like I am getting towards that now, if not already there and I have high expectations. Now we have to work hard in pre-season to put everything together.”

Meanwhile, City will have an extra shot at silverware this season having entered the Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup.

Entry to the charity competition is via invite with Vincent happy to accept an opportunity to play more matches.

“People say teams play too many games but I don’t think that is the case,” he explained.

“If you were to ask the players whether they would rather train or play, they’d rather play.

“Sometimes it is a case of getting the next game under your belt to keep up your form or get the last match out of your system.

“I was asked my views about entering and was more than happy because more games offer us more opportunities to win.”