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Kidd: We will do better next year

28/ 8/2008

PAUL Kidd is convinced that his Swinton Lions side will make amends for a disappointing League Two campaign by performing far better next year.

With the Lions having finished outside the play-off positions in 10th spot, head coach Kidd is focusing his attention on making Swinton stronger for the 2009 campaign.

He has devised a new signing wish list and will be approaching his transfer targets after the anti-tampering deadline has passed this Monday, September 1.

And Kidd already has nine members of his 2008 squad signed up for next season after utility man Craig Ashall and winger Barry Hamilton penned one-year contract extensions this week.

The other Lions contracted for 2009 are Bruce Johnson, Ben Williams, Chris Frodsham, Richie Hawkyard, Phil Wood, Neil Rigby and Chris Tyrer.

And Kidd is confident of keeping hold of the vast majority of the other Swinton players that he wants to stay put.

Kidd said: "I am sure that I will be able to keep most of the players that I want to keep as the players are in the same frame of mind as me – disappointed with the season we’ve had but believing that we can improve as a group and really move forward next year.

"We had a very inexperienced squad this year. And, in my opinion, I would be foolish to scrap it and start building again.

"There is familiarity with the players here and they now know what playing for Swinton is all about.

"So we are going to use the Keighley model. They have shown faith in players and gradually built to go from easy beats to fourth in the league.

"But I will be releasing some players and I hope to be able to go public with the names of those players in the next week or so.

"And I will be looking to bring some new players in after the deadline has passed on Monday.

"I have drawn up a wish list and I am confident of being able to strengthen the squad.

"We will also have some players back from injury next year. We had rotten ruck with injuries this season. Chris Tyrer, Phil Wood, Chris Morley, Adam Bibey, Rob Ball and Richard Jones are all currently out of action with long-term injuries but all of them apart from Morley should be fit for the start of 2009.

"As for Craig Ashall and Barry Hamilton, I am delighted that they have signed new contracts.

"Craig has had a great season. He did exceptionally well for us last season and he’s actually improved on that this year.

"His attitude and will to win is second to none.

"Barry has had a few injury problems this year but if he can steer clear of injuries next year I am sure we will see his full potential.

"He has a lot of pace and has done well deputising for Marlon Billy and Andy Saywell this year. So well, in fact, that he was selected ahead of Saywell on a few occasions."