Clarke was appointed player-manager on 4 August

Salisbury City boss Darrell Clarke says remaining a professional club despite dropping two leagues has helped him assemble an impressive squad.

The Whites were demoted to the Southern League from the Blue Square Premier at the end of last season for missing payments to creditors.

"[The squad] has a massively good pedigree," Clarke told BBC Wiltshire.

"The pull to come here is full-time football and fair play to these guys they could've earned more elsewhere."

Clarke has only been in the job since the beginning of August but has already signed a number of players from Football League sides.

He has brought in former Southampton striker Kayne McLaggon and ex-Crystal Palace forward Matt Wright.

Former Ipswich goalkeeper Tommy Smith has also joined.

The 32-year-old added: "They wanted to stay in the full-time ladder and wanted to work with me and Mikey [assistant manager Mikey Harris].

Much of the Salisbury squad is made up of young professionals but Clarke is unconcerned about having a youthful side and has been impressed by what he has seen.

"Over the pre-season we've improved each game and look more organised," he said.

"These boys have come out of the full-time leagues so to speak and have got points to prove.

"I love working with young lads. They come in to training, get on with their work and take on board what I want from them.

"On match days they get about it on the pitch and do what they do and those are the sort of young lads we want at this club."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version