Mudge makes his moves

Patrick Corlett • Published 4 Jun 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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Jemel Johnson has joined Windsor from Thatcham and he is in action against his new club at Stag Meadow.

Football

NEW Windsor & Eton boss Dave Mudge is concentrating on attracting local talent as he hopes to establish the club in the Southern Premier Division next season.

The ex-Burnham manager has set up links with New Windsor Youth Football Club, something similar to what he did in his time at The Gore, and he has already made three new recruits.

Hitman Jemel Johnson has joined from Thatcham Town, defender Michael Buck from Reading Town and midfielder Ryan Scott from last year's title rivals AFC Totton.

"I'm delighted to be offered the job by (chairman) Peter Simpson, especially as it's the town I've lived in for 25 years," remarked Mudge. "It's not often something like that happens.

"The main thing is to try to secure the future of the football club at a higher level.

"Ryan Scott is a central midfielder from AFC Totton. We need strength in depth as we go up a level and he is reasonably local. We will be without Matt Seedel in the early part of the season and he can fill in that role that he played last year.

"Jemel Johnson from Thatcham has signed, he is quick and a natural goalscorer, very much in the mould of Victor Osobu.

"Michael Buck from Bracknell Town and Reading Town is only 20 and very much one for the future. We've beaten seven other clubs to his signature.

"He can play centre-back or right-back and has stood out in struggling teams. He has a fantastic attitude to football and life. He's a local lad and we have been lucky enough to secure him for the future which is what we want to do here."

Mudge is also hoping that the majority of last season's championship winning squad will stay on board, budget permitting. He commented: "The initial talks I've had with existing players have gone quite well but 60 per cent of the players are away or have been away. It will be another 10 days before the situation is clear.

"I would love to keep everybody in the squad but the reality and budget mean that players will have to move a tad.

"That will be the same with every club but the squad deserves the opportunity to play at the higher level as they got us there last season so ideally I would like to keep the whole squad."

Speaking about his aims for the future, Mudge added: "From my point of view the aim is always the same at the start of any season, try to finish one place above the relegation zone as soon as possible and then see where you can finish from there.

"Personally I think we can be a mid-table side and surprise a few along the road. It depends on what other teams are doing but most clubs in the country are looking at tightening their budgets at every level.

"You just have to look at Portsmouth and Crystal Palace.

"We have set up an affiliation with New Windsor Football Club.

"Their current under-16 side will be playing in the North East Hants Under-17 League. The Capital League side will continue as well which will be predominantly under-23. Micky Woodham will oversee that.

"Micky is someone I've known for a long time and he is desperate to prove himself at a higher level.

"I think it is good for the football club to promote from within and Graham Malcolm who was running the Capital League side will be on my coaching staff along with Steve Howe."

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 04 Jun 10

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