Brady Stone says he is pleased with the way his Ely City squad is taking shape ahead of the new season.

Stone has managed to retain all but two of last season’s squad so far and has welcomed a handful of trialists to train with the Robins ahead of the start of their new Thurlow Nunn Premier Division campaign on August 1.

“The players that we have had coming to training have settled in really well which is good because having a good squad off the pitch is as important as having one on the pitch,” he said.

“The whole of the squad, bar [striker] Sam Reed who hasn’t signed yet, and Kelvin Enaro, who has left, have re-signed which is really pleasing.

“Everything is looking good so far. If we can add three or four players then I think we can have a successful season.

“It’s going to be another tough year as sides like Stowmarket Town, Felixstowe and Walton United and Newmarket Town have been making some good signings.

“If we can finish in the top 10 and have another little cup run then it will have been a very successful season.”

The former defender-turned-boss gave five trialists a run out in their 4-0 friendly victory over Huntingdon Town last Saturday and says he was impressed by what he saw.

“It was a good run-out for the boys,” he said.

“Adam Capel played well; he has very good potential but is training at two other clubs so it’ll be tough to keep him. Josh Sewell, who used to play for the club, played well and got a goal and Nick Heap has come over from Hardwick so we’ve got plenty of options.”

Stone also admitted that he was disappointed to see Enaro, who left the Unwin to pursue a higher-level move earlier in the summer, make an appearance for league rivals Haverhill Rovers last week.

“He had a lot of offers last season but we spoke to Kelvin and said that if he stayed with us we’d help him find a club higher up because he’s capable of that level,” he said.

“To see him playing for Haverhill is a bit of a kick in the teeth but we’ll just have to wait and see where he ends up and we wish him all the best.”

The Robins continued their pre-season preparations with a 6-4 success over Linton Granta on Tuesday night. They take on Wisbech Town on Saturday (away, 3pm).