First team manager Alan Devonshire has shed insight into the off-field developments at Maidenhead United as we approach the halfway stage of the off-season break.
Rebuilding the squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign has already begun, with three new signings confirmed, and Will de Havilland and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson putting pen to paper for the new season.
“Yeah, it's going okay,” said Devonshire when asked on the summer business so far. “We're close to getting another couple of deals over the line.”
Speculation has surrounded Maidenhead United’s retained list for some time, with supporters eager to know the ins-and-outs since the culmination of last season. Devonshire addressed the situation directly: “The problem we've had a little bit is that players that were at the club [who] we wanted to keep – we’ve offered deals but they're waiting until later on in the window just to see if anything else comes up because they want to play as high as they can, which I understand.
“We’re still talking to three or four players we want to keep but we won't really know until they make their decisions. And that's how it is at the moment.”
Pressed on the latest updates regarding the retained list, Devonshire said: “The reason why we really can't [release] it is because we've told the players that have definitely left or we've let go, but at the end of the day, we're still talking to three or four players that we're hoping to keep. It's in their hands. It's not really in our hands.
“I don't want to say to you: ‘oh, he's, you know, retained’ or whatever when there's nothing to say. There's three or four players that are still making decisions. So, it's a point of me hanging on or just saying: ‘well see you later’. So, at the end of the day I’d rather wait because that's the way I've always done it.”
Relegation to the National League South has made attracting and retaining players “harder,” according to Devonshire. While uncertainty remains as to who will sign on the dotted line, the gaffer has already begun making additions to the squad. Jordon Ragguette and Asher Yearwood have joined the club, while former Aldershot goalkeeper Jordi van Stappershoef will also be wearing a Maidenhead shirt come the start of the season.
“Asher scores goals wherever he is,” Devonshire explained when asked what he hopes the former Gosport Borough player will bring to his side. “He's 27, he's hungry, he gets in the box. He's a good finisher. He's up and down, so I think he'll be an asset to what we need. I don't think last year we scored a goal from midfield – out of the three or four midfield players we had, I don't think we scored a goal all season. So that's got to change.
“Jordon, again, is an up and down left back who does create things. He’s got a great wand of a left foot and gets balls in the box. So, at the end of the day, I think they'll be assets to us. They know the league as well.”
Learning from the lessons of last season has played a big factor in Devonshire’s recruitment so far, with the 29-year-old van Stappershoef another case in point.
“We gave a lot of goals away from corners last year, you know, a lot of goals,” he said. “Most - I'd say 75% - of our goals were caused by corners, and not defending them right. So I wanted a bigger keeper who can actually command his six-yard box and hopefully comes to crosses.”
Keep an eye out on our social media channels and our website for part two of our interview, where we discuss the forthcoming season and the challenges which await in the National League South.
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