Blend of old and new for upcoming season

A TOTAL of 26 first-team players are currently signed up for the 2009 season under Tony Benson.

The majority of those have signed renewed contracts after playing with the Roughyeds last year, while there have also been eight fresh faces brought into the squad.

Of the men under contract, all have deals which stretch until the end of next year other than Phil Joseph who, like his coach, is guaranteed a deal for 2010 should the team make it into National League One either via finishing top of the table or by winning the end-of-season play-off competition.

Five players from last season's reserves side have also been given two-year professional deals.

Here is a reminder of close-season activity at the club —

OUTGOING PLAYERS: Matty Brooks (Sheffield), Adam Robinson (Dewsbury), Ian Hodson.

RETAINED PLAYERS: Rob Roberts, Luke Sutton, Marcus St Hilaire, James Coyle, Luke Menzies, Lucas Onyango, Tommy Goulden, Daryl Cardiss, Paul O'Connor, Danny Halliwell, Chris Baines, Neil Roden, Simeon Hoyle, Jason Boults, Richard Mervill (all one-year deals); Phil Joseph (two-year deal, dependent on Oldham gaining promotion to NL1); Ben Seru (entering the second term of a current two-year deal).

NEW SIGNINGS: Andy Ballard (Salford), Craig Robinson (Rochdale, one year), Thomas Coyle (from Wigan), Gary Sykes (Swinton), Paul Highton (Salford), Paul Reilly (Wakefield), Wayne Kerr (London Skolars), Dave Allen (unattached).

RESERVES: Scott Mansfield (Saddleworth Rangers), Chris Clarke (Oldham St Anne's), Ben Heaton (Rochdale Mayfield), Mark Smith (Latchford Albion), Anthony Bingham (unattached).