Pay cuts show Blues’ loyalty

As the Standard went to print he’d managed to snap up goalkeeper Phil Barnes, defenders Dom Roma and Greg Young, midfielders Jonathan Williams and Ryan Williams and striker Darryn Stamp, alongside the already contracted front man Mark Jones.

Housham revealed he was hoping to secure the services of Brad Barraclough this week, and insisted the players were committing to the club for the right reasons.

“We’ve made great signings, and these players have taken massive pay cuts to be here – you don’t see that loyalty very often in football,” he said.

“They didn’t take much persuading, I didn’t put pressure on them, they love the club.”

Barnes returns after a season at Alfreton, meaning the departure of keepers Jason White and Jan Budtz, and Ryan Williams has verbally agreed to come back to the club following his release by North Ferriby United.

“I have to thank Jan and Jason for what they did here, but when someone of Phil’s class comes along at such a cheap price, you have to snap him up.”

“Ryan is away on his honeymoon but he’s verbally agreed, he’s coming into the coaching side of things as well, and Darryn Stamp will be my assistant.”

“Lee Warren was a big help to me as my assistant and he moves on with work commitments, but Darryn is very experienced and I needed a player assistant.”

The manager is delighted with the spine of the team he’s put together already, and hopes it signals their intent.

“It’s not far off the team that got to the play-off final the season before last, and the players want to prove people wrong, people who thought it was the end for Gainsborough.”

“We want to be in the play-off mix again,” he added.