Signings spree signals promotion push

Warrington Town laid down a marker for the next EVO-STIK League campaign on Friday with the re-signing of four former players and one new face.

Former club captain Tom Hardwick, 26, returns after leaving the First Division North club just over two years ago to join Skelmersdale United. He is pictured being welcomed back by manager Shaun Reid and Warrington Chairman Toby Macormac along with keeper Karl Willis who’s back at Cantilever Park after a four year spell at Runcorn Town.

Willis, also 26, started out at Crewe, making his debut against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup before joining the Wire as a teenager.

The pair were reunited with another returning fans favourite, striker Anthony Hickey. The 24-year-old moved on to Skelmersdale United before switching to Runcorn Linnets last season.

Left-back Matt Doughty also returned as the club signaled its intentions to mount another promotion hunting campaign. The 31-year-old had a spell at his home town club in 2011 before leaving for a successful spell at Altrincham where he won promotion to the Conference Premier.

Defender Alex Frost, 28, completes the line-up, bringing bags of experience after making more than 200 appearances for Premier Division Ashton United prior to joining Nantwich Town as club captain last season.

Delighted Wire manager Reid said: "The signings we have made are a statement of our intentions to kick on from last season and challenge for promotion. These new signings will strengthen our squad and it shows just how far our club has come to be able to attract signings of this calibre."