HOLLAND FC assistant manager Steve Davis believes his club will head into next season with their strongest squad for years.

In addition to hopefully retaining last term’s squad, the coastal outfit are also on course to add seven or eight new faces.

They plan to have an 18 or 19-man squad capable of challenging for promotion in next season’s new Thurlow Nunn League south division, where they will line-up alongside the likes of Harwich and Parkeston and Little Oakley.

“Things are looking really positive,” said Davis, who will work alongside long-serving first-team boss Rob Batten.

“It’s been a busy few weeks and we’ve had to do a bit of plate-spinning, in terms of getting organised for next season.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and there have been lots of conversations but we’re happy with the position we’re in and hopeful we can have a good season.

“Squad-wise, I think it’s going to be the strongest the club have had for many years.

“In addition to last season’s boys, we’re very hopeful of adding seven or eight new faces – four or five signings, a couple coming from back from long-term injury and a couple who are stepping up from the reserves.

“We’re aiming for quality rather than quantity.

“We pinpointed our weaknesses last season and immediately identified the players we wanted to bring to the club.

“Thankfully, it looks like those moves are going to come off.”

Davis says the club have a strong hand, in terms of recruiting, because of their brand new facilities at Eastcliff.

Holland will kick-off the season in their new stadium after a spell ground-sharing with FC Clacton.

“In terms of additions, we’re doing things a bit differently this year,” he said.

“Rather than going out and signing players, we’ve invited them over for pre-season training instead.

“That gives us a chance to look at them, for them to have a look at us and to see how committed they are.

“It’s a bit risky as it gives other clubs the chance to nip in and have a conversation but it’s a risk worth taking because we only want players here who are prepared to buy into our club.

“To be honest, we feel in a strong position because of the new ground and facilities.

“It means we’ve got something other clubs can’t offer.”

The Holland squad will return for pre-season training on Tuesday, July 3.

They will then train twice a week and play the first of four friendlies on Saturday, July 7.

“It’s going to be a very competitive division with no standout teams,” said Davis, reflecting on the new Thurlow Nunn League division.

“It’s going to be a nice mix between playing teams and players we’re very familiar with but also coming up against sides that we know nothing about.”

Richard Downes and Calvin Allen, last year’s reserve-team manager, have been appointed first-team coaches to work alongside Batten and Davis.