MOSSLEY are looking to make up to half a dozen new signings as a further six players have agreed to stay for the 2022-23 season.
Midfielder Kane Hickman, winger Jack Bannister, strikers Andy Keogh and Louie Potts have signed contracts with the Emmaus Mossley Seel Park club.
Defender Jack Grundy and goalkeeper Dale Latham have also reached agreements to remain.
They join Jordan Butterworth, Freddie Sass, Joe Rothwell, Bailey Marsden and Mason Fawns as a total of 11 players are committed to the club for next season.
Mossley are still in negotiations with sought-after centre back Devon Matthews who was the subject of numerous approaches from other clubs last season.
In addition, Jamie Hill and Will Hartshorne, who joined during the last campaign, will also report back for pre-season training.
“We haven’t seen enough of them so they will come back and do pre-season with us,” explained manager David Fish.
Fish is already speaking to several players, currently at other clubs, as he is looking to bring in between four and six new players to complete his rebuild, adding it is important to get business done early so they can hit the ground running when they report back for pre-season training.
He added there will also be several trialists at pre-season training which starts next month as he is looking to build a 20-strong squad.
Of the team building so far, Fish explained: “It was really important to keep together the core of last season’s squad which we have managed to do.
“We have a fairly young side, and the players will be better for one more year of experience. We didn’t want to give them that experience and for them to move on and other clubs benefit from it.”
However, there is an exodus with nine players, mainly on the periphery, who have been released.
Of the nine, the most experienced is Ben Richardson who has made more than 200 appearances for the Lilywhites and become a club legend.
However, he became father of twins last season and, combined with his job as a teacher, wasn’t always available.
The other leaving are full-back Ollie Broe who was on dual registration from Farsley Celtic, centre back Tyler Williams, loanee Andreas Bianga who has returned to Ashton United, winger Levi Phillips, striker Connor Morris, midfielder David Kuba-Kuba who was badly injured early last season, reserve goalkeeper Jordan Hadlow and utility player Sam Kilner.
Keogh, club captain, top scorer and supporters’ player of the season, is the most experienced player with 284 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring 58 goals.
He said: “We had a young squad last year and the players gained invaluable experience at this level and, with most of them staying for another year, I’m really excited to see us build on that in the coming season.”
Hickman, who made 47 appearances for Mossley last season, has become a key member of the side having signed from Droylsden after they folded.
Fish said: “Kane is a big player for the club; wholehearted, honest, hardworking and a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s the kind of player fans loves, and for good reason.
“His workrate and energy is infectious and a massive part of how we want to play the game. He’s also a very talented footballer, easily overlooked at times, but he has good vision and technique.
Keeping him at the club for another year was important to us and I’m delighted we’ve done that.”
Potts was captured on dual registration from North West Counties League side Avro FC in March but has now made the move permanent while Bannister was signed from Widnes early last season.
• First-team coach James Stokes has left Mossley for a return to Glossop North End is a role which will see him take on more responsibility than his current one.