Rushall Olympic manager Paul Holleran recently made his initial moves in the summer transfer market by snapping up experienced central defender TODD PERRY and highly rated teenage striker ALAN WILKES.
Todd arrives at Dales Lane from neighbours Chasetown, effectively as a ready made replacement for newly departed club captain RICHARD BROWN, who recently announced his decision to move to Shifnal Town after seven highly successful seasons with the club. The 25-year-old stopper and former Willenhall Town skipper transferred to the Scholars in December 2007 and previously had spells with clubs including Walsall, West Bromwich Albion, Kidderminster Harriers, Burton Albion, Gresley Rovers, Sutton Coldfield Town and Atherstone Town. A talented player who can weigh in with some vital goals, the vocal centre back can also adopt a more attacking role and has excellent distribution and positioning skills which will make him a crucial addition to the Rushall defensive line.
Meanwhile, highly rated Alan has returned to Dales Lane after being released by Coca Cola League One neighbours Walsall at the end of the 2007-08 campaign. The 18-year-old had previously joined the Pics back in late January 2008 on loan in order to gain more experience and was a regular member of the Saddler's Youth Team who ended last season as their top scorer and had also progressed impressively into the Reserve side at the Banks's Stadium. A local lad, he first came to prominence with Birchills United in the Wolverhampton Combination during season 2006-07 and his undoubted prowess in front of goal soon earned him a move to the Saddlers - helping them win the Midland Youth Cup against Shrewsbury Town in May 2007.
More crucially, the Pics boss has also successfully retained the vast majority of his squad who finished in fifth place in British Gas Business Football League Division One Midlands and were then pipped to a place in last season's Promotion Play-Off Final. The most notable retainees were 'keeper TONY BREEDEN and 16-goal top scorer RICHARD BEALE who were also known to be very strongly courted by some Southern League clubs, but both players displayed tremendous loyalty by turning down far more lucrative offers to remain at Dales Lane for the clubs UniBond Northern Premier Football League debut campaign.
With the club's pre-season training due to begin in earnest on Tuesday 1st July, Paul Holleran continues to keep his finger on the pulse of the summer transfer market and with other irons still in the fire Olympic's squad will undoubtedly be strengthened further still during the next few weeks.
