Liam, being the loyal chap that he is, has spent his birthday (happy birthday buddy) at the ground and this evening has signed Ben McKenna, Steve Tames and Danny Wisdom

Ben needs no introduction and Liam was keen to get him back on board. Ben has great speed and ability and one of the themes that will run through next season's squad will be pace. Liam feels that there will be few teams with the overall pace that we will have.

Steve Tames was a goal scorer for Liam at Southport in the Conference Premier. He has also scored prolifically at our level (got 11 in 25 for Vauxhall Motors) and will join our strike force.

Danny was a key target for Liam. He is a 6'1" left back who has serious speed and will be bombing up and down the left flank for us next season. He joins us from Skelmersdale United and Liam believes that Danny has a huge future ahead of him.

There are 4 other players that will be officially signing on Saturday that Trudge will update you on. If we're lucky, there will be a fifth and that should bring us up to 17 players already. Liam is "made up" with how things have developed and feels that he's got his squad together quicker than he could have hoped.

I mentioned that pace will be one factor. Experience will be another. Although our squad will have an average age of 23/24, there will be at least 3 players who have won league titles in there. Also, despite that average age, most of the squad will have a significant number of league games under their belts. Physicality will be a further theme for next year. The back line will all have a physical presence (watch this space!) and we will have strength in midfield too.

I've asked Liam to put together a squad that will be challenging next year, not one languishing in mid table. I've said that we would back him. But Liam is not the type of manager who will go out and try and buy a league. His 4 championships have all come from having a squad that has the most important theme of all - a team spirit. Yes, our team will be fast and physically strong, but they will all buy in to Liam's team philosophy.

The goalkeeper and others that are signing on Saturday will almost complete the squad. We will have 3-4 central defenders and 2 others that can play there if needed. 3 to 4 full backs, 4 central midfielders, and the majority of all those defenders and midfielders will be 6 foot plus. We will have 3 pacy wingers and 3 centre forwards. Liam knows what it takes to win this league and he is delighted with the 18 that he will be working with in the summer.

If Liam is happy, then given that he knows what it takes to win this league, I'm happy too.