Tamworth

Tamworth
Tamworth player-boss Mark Cooper plans to sign nine new players this summer as he look to build on an impressive first season in charge of the Lambs. "I have kept nine players, which has given us a base," said Cooper. "We're going to have a maximum of 18 players. That will be tight but I need to leave some room for loan players." Cooper is to hold further talks with striker Julian Alsop and has also shown an interest in former Halifax Town winger Dean Howell.

Tamworth net veteran goalkeeper
Tamworth player-manager Mark Cooper has signed former Crewe and Walsall goalkeeper Mark Gayle. Gayle, 35, has signed as a player and will double up as a coach for the club's goalkeepers. Cooper is hoping that Preston's Chris Neal, 19, will return to the Lamb as first-choice following a successful loan spell last season. Cooper has also held talks with Hucknall Town's goalscoring midfielder Andy Todd about a possible move.

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Alsop training with Forest Green
Striker Julian Alsop is training with Forest Green Rovers, who are keen to sign him for a second time. Alsop, 32, played three times for Rovers last season before a lengthy FA ban imposed for an incident while he was at Oxford curtailed his stay. The former Swansea and Cheltenham target man is also wanted by Tamworth. Rovers boss Gary Owers is also looking at former Bristol City pair Sekani Simpson and Craig Loxton, and ex-Yeovil duo Chris Giles and Jamie Gosling. Alsop's last competitive game was for Forest Green against Aldershot on New Year's Day - during which he was sent off.

Tamworth complete swoop for pair
Tamworth have signed midfielder Hugh McAuley and defender Jimmy Turner. McAuley, 28, started 26 games for the Aldershot last season before ending the campaign at Forest Green. Turner joins Tamworth after leaving Farnborough last season, while transfer target Julian Alsop was also due to hold further talks with the Lambs. Boss Mark Cooper is also taking a look at ex-West Brom keeper Chris Adamson and has given a trial to former Swansea striker Carl Heggs.

Tamworth 0-0 Forest Green
Ten-man Forest Green held on to secure a point from a goalless draw. Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jon Beswetherick was dismissed for a second booking 14 minutes from time but Rovers maintained their unbeaten start. The visitors shaded the first half as Scott Rendell and Bruno Teixeira both went close, while after the break Rovers' Ryan Clarke saved twice. But despite Beswetherick's sending-off, Tamworth could not break down a resolute Rovers defence. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tamworth: Dormand, Bampton (Douglas 82), Redmile, Brown, Turner, Hollis, Adie Smith, Ward, Whitman (Heggs 77), Alsop, McAuley (Taylor 68). Subs Not Used: Jackson, Gayle. Booked: Adie Smith. Forest Green: Clarke, Richardson, Garner, Graham, Simpson, Gadsby (Beswetherick 45), Wanless, Meechan, Searle, Teixeira (Gosling 79), Rendell (Haldane 84). Subs Not Used: Harrison, Danks. Sent Off: Beswetherick (76). Booked: Beswetherick. Att: 1,258. Ref: A Rayner (Leicestershire).

Tamworth boss ready for key games
Tamworth boss Mark Cooper feels his side is heading for a crucial spell. The Lambs, unbeaten in 14 league games, play the fancied trio of Stevenage, Hereford and Morecambe in an eight-day period starting on Saturday. "These three games will perhaps shape which way the season is going to go for us. They will be a big test," he said. "If we struggle with them it may tell us which way it's going to go. If we do well and get something out of them then it will be looking promising."

Tamworth 0-1 Hereford
Hereford needed just one goal to win a match at Tamworth which ended on a sour note with a late double sending-off. The visitors dominated the first half and claimed the only goal when Adam Stansfield crossed for Alex Jeannin to head into the top left corner. They dominated the second half but Tamworth's Hugh McAuley went closest to scoring with a shot just over the bar. With five minutes left, Graham Ward of Tamworth and Hereford's Ryan Green saw red for violent conduct.

Royals monitor Tamworth youngster
Reading will continue to monitor the progress of Tamworth defender Aaron Brown after playing him in their reserve side last week. Another Championship club has also asked to be kept up to date with the progress of the 22-year-old, who joined the Lambs last summer. Meanwhile, Tamworth have signed Reading winger Darren Campbell, 19, on loan. Campbell made his debut as a substitute in Saturday¿s 4-0 defeat against Halifax at The Shay. The 19-year-old has made one senior appearance for the Royals but missed last season through injury and will get the chance of first-team football at the Lamb.

Tamworth boss upbeat despite loss
Tamworth boss Mark Cooper believes his side will get out of trouble despite being sent to the bottom of the table by Tuesday's 3-0 home defeat by York. "There is a long way to go and if we keep playing like that week-in week-out the tide will turn sooner rather than later," said Cooper. "We played well and York will know they have had a good game. No one can say we deserve something out of it. "The fans should be proud of the lads as they battled and showed commitment."

Tamworth bring in Edwards on loan
Tamworth boss Mark Cooper has brought in Exeter striker Jake Edwards on a three-month loan. The 29-year-old, who has previously played for Yeovil, Telford, Blackpool and Wrexham, has scored three goals for Exeter this season. Cooper, who hopes Edwards will provide some much-needed goals, told the club website: "We'd be halfway up the table by now if we had a few more goals. "It is an area we needed to address and hopefully Jake is part of the answer."

Lambs out to sign striker Edwards
Tamworth manager Mark Cooper wants to sign on-loan Exeter City striker Jake Edwards on a free transfer when the transfer window opens in January. Edwards, 29, has impressed during his three-month loan stint with the Lambs. Cooper told the Express & Echo: "I have spoken to Alex Inglethorpe and there wouldn't be a fee involved, there is no way we could afford to pay a fee. "But I would certainly like to keep him here, I rate him highly, and I have had a chat with him about staying."

Tamworth close in on Johnson deal
Scunthorpe striker Tommy Johnson is set to sign for Tamworth, according to Lambs coach Richard Dryden. Dryden has revealed that he is in discussions with Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws over a transfer. He is hoping to have a deal for the 35-year-old finalised in time for Tuesday's game at York City. "We know Tommy will join us for the start of next season but we'd like him here this week if possible," Dryden told the Birmingham Mail. Dryden is also looking to extend Matty Williams' loan spell at the club. He said: "We've got to keep Matty if we can. "It took numerous telephone calls to convince him to come in the first place. Eventually I text him and said I'd keep ringing every day until he agreed to join us. His goals have been priceless."

Lambs have no excuses for defeat
Assistant boss Richard Dryden offered "no excuses" after Tamworth were beaten 2-1 by Halifax at the Lamb to remain 20th in the Conference table. "No one picked them up for their opening goal, and Peter Folkes was too tight and got caught out for their second," he told the club website. "We didn't lift the game, and the only real spark was Carl Heggs. "We asked the lads to work hard and contribute more, but Alan Neilson, Dave Bampton and Dominic Roma did well."

Notts striker extends Lambs loan
Notts County striker Matthew Williams is to stay on loan at Tamworth until the end of April. Williams has had his loan spell extended after scoring five times in his first seven games for the Conference strugglers. The 23-year-old was placed on the transfer-list at Meadow Lane earlier this season. Williams has scored just once for County since joining the club from Manchester United in March 2004. He has made just two first-team appearances this season.

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