SOHAM Town manager Ian Benjamin has revealed that new signing Martin McNeil has the potential to become a club favourite. The 26-year-old defender signed from Wisbech Town last week and Benjamin is delighted by the transfer. He said: I have been trying t

SOHAM Town manager Ian Benjamin has revealed that new signing Martin McNeil has the potential to become a club favourite.

The 26-year-old defender signed from Wisbech Town last week and Benjamin is delighted by the transfer.

He said: "I have been trying to get Martin at the club ever since we played Wisbech in the Cambs Invitation Cup last season.

"I think the fans will be impressed with him and he could be a good replacement for Paul Hill."

Hill, 34, left the club last month and McNeil, who was outstanding for Wisbech last season, has already had a positive impact at the club.

Benjamin said: "He is a great character in the dressing room and has mixed with the rest of the squad really well."

The Soham boss is also hopeful that he will complete more signings in the coming days, but he has remained tight-lipped on the players' identities.

Benjamin said: "If all goes well we will be signing a defender and a striker very soon. I am very pleased with the fact that we are attracting players who are established at this level of football."

Soham's existing players have also been putting pen to paper this week and training sessions have been encouraging for Benjamin, who said: "Our first priority during the summer was to get the likes of Scott Johnson and Simon Flanz to re-sign for the club.

"Lee Jordan, Paul Jones, Michael Simpson, Scott Cater, Brett Claydon and Charles Libam have all committed to the club for next season and I am absolutely delighted.

"It shows what a good spirit we have at the club when players want to stay with you."

He added: "Training has also gone really well and it was great to see Peter Hinde and Martin Bromwich back in action at the weekend."

Soham have drawn St Neots Town in both of the major cup competitions next season.

The home fixture in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on August 18 will be followed by the trip to St Neots for the FA Vase second qualifying round on September 22.

FA Cup and FA Vase draws

FA Cup Extra preliminary round (August 18)

Mildenhall Town v Leiston

Soham Town v St Neots Town

Preliminary round (September 1)

Ely City v Boston Town

FA Vase

Second qualifying round (September 22)

St Neots Town v Soham

Ely City v Lincoln Moorlands Railway