AVELEY manager Terry Spillane says he is confident the team he is assembling will be able to mount a Ryman North play-off tilt next season.

The Millers, who move into their next Parkside ground for the start of next term, have been busy recruiting over the last week, adding a number of new names alongside some key retained players.

Charlie Edwards, Jake Gordon, Brett O’Connor, Christy O’Donoghue and Paul Preston all link up with the club.

And Spillane is excited at the prospects of his team.

“We didn’t stop working the day the season ended,” he said.

“We started making ourselves busy as it was important to keep the squad together. We did well at the end of last year and you could always lose a couple of players over pre-season.

“We want to keep the majority and improve it as well, which we have done.”

O’Connor has played for Spillane before when he was manager at Thamesmead Town, describing the left winger as ‘technically excellent’.

He added that he tried to sign the flanker last season but due to his working commitments he was unable to do so.

Edwards is a central midfielder, who captained South Midlands Premier League side Hoddesdon Town last season.

Aged just 20, Edwards is described by Spillane as ‘an unknown quantity at this level’ but has backed him to make the grade.

O’Donoghue is a player Spillane has been scouting for three seasons, having come through Thurrock’s reserves.

“He broke into the first team last season but broke his nose and spent some time away from the game,” said Spillane.

“He struggled to get back into the team when he returned as they were doing so well in the league.

“He went to Southend Manor and did well, he is a local lad and our club is a good place for him to learn his trade.”

Fans favourite Preston returns, with the right-back re-signing from Romford. Spillane described the move a ‘no-brainer’ and added his experience would be crucial going forward.

And he was excited at the prospects of Jake Gordon, saying the striker could hit 25 goals for the Millers next term.

“I have kept an eye on Jake for a while,” he said. “I tried to sign him at Maldon & Tiptree while he was at Chelmsford.

“I spoke to him in the close season and I am delighted to have him. He can get 20/25 goals for us and he wants to be here.

“Losing Mason (Bloomfield) was a blow and we needed to move quickly to get Jake in.”

This follows the news that Aveley have retained the services of Cain Broughan, Joe Clark, Billy Coyne, Ross Gleed, Jeremiah Maja, Joe Paxman and George Woodward.

Spillane says he hopes to add six or seven more to his squad from last season in the next week.

“We will keep ears and eyes open but the players we are looking for are few and far between because of our budget,” he said.

“The main thing is to get the guys we had here last season over the line.

“We want to give it a good go next year,” he added. “It is exciting times for the club with the stadium move around the corner and the guys on the board know it will be tough.

“But we want a play-off tilt of course. I am confident we will, but so will 23 other managers.”