Quartet signed to tackle relegation fight

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Marine have signed a quartet of new players in a bid to retain their Premier Division status.

The third from bottom Mariners are nine points adrift of the top flight’s safety zone with 20 games left to play and a trip to Grantham Town next up on Saturday.

On Thursday night officials announced that manager Carl Macauley had signed midfielders Carl Peers from AFC Liverpool and Jody Jay Colbeck from First Division North Warrington Town as well as two loan signings from Conference Premier Chester, Liam Blake and striker cum winger Jamie Menagh.

Menagh, 21, initially joined Blackpool as a youngster, winning a contract last season before spending some time at Stoke City. He joined Chester after a pre-season trial and his loan at the Arriva Stadium runs until the end of the season.

Chester-based Blake, 18, is a product of the Chester's youth development squad and arrives on a short one month loan.

Peers, 23, joined AFC Liverpool at the start of this season and made twenty six appearances for Paul Moore’s side, scoring four times.

Colbeck, 21, joined Warrington Town in September from Connah’s Quay Nomads after spells at Wrexham and Bangor City.

Marine Chairman Paul Leary said: "It is important that we do everything we can to retain out status in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League where Marine have been members since joining the competition in 1979.

"This is a proud record for our club and I look to Carl and his staff and players to achieve this changed priority. Our squad has been depleted in recent weeks following departures of players for various reasons and the signing of these four players, with more to come, will improve the squad in numbers and quality.

"I therefore expect results to improve over the coming months in what is going to be a real challenge but I firmly believe and hope that we will do it under Carl’s stewardship."

Macauley added: "It has been very difficult in the last month or so to get the right players mid-season to join us especially replacing players who have left suddenly.

"These four signings will improve the squad and provide increased competition in addition to providing the individual strengths that each of these new players will bring to the team.

"I am hopeful of further signings as I do my absolute best with my staff to finish above the drop zone by the end of the season."

Image courtesy of www.chesterchronicle.co.uk

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | The NPL group on Facebook by clicking here: www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/