Ricky Marheineke has added another player to his ever-growing St Ives Town squad – but stalwart Dan Newman has left for Huntingdon Town.
Jonny Hall is Marheineke’s latest addition and after the full-back decided to join the Southern League club rather than re-sign for Godmanchester Rovers – but Newman, who has played more than 500 times for St Ives alongside fellow central defender Will Fordham, has moved on after his new boss couldn’t guarantee a starting place every week.
Marheineke, who signed star forward Ben Seymour-Shove from Seb Hayes’s Huntingdon last week, said: “Dan has been a fantastic servant to St Ives Town over the years. He wanted guarantees of playing every week and I couldn’t do that.
“Huntingdon have offered him a great deal and I wish him all the best.
“Jonny is a fantastic signing for us. He has all the attributes to be a really top player. He has pace, strength and power along with unbelievable technical ability.
“For me there isn’t a better left back in the area than Jonny. He is the perfect player at 24 to improve the team and help the club achieve our aim of promotion in years to come.”
Striker Avelino Vieira has also left St Ives with Marheineke saying: “Avi had offers from other clubs and has decided to take up a better offer.”
At Huntingdon, after losing so many players to St Ives, and Ryan Spencer to Eynesbury Rovers, Hayes is keeping his cards close to his chest – but was expecting to finalise three deals when pre-season training began last night (Tuesday).
“I want to thank all the players who have left for the great work they did for us last season,” said Hayes.
“They were brilliant for us and we certainly don’t part on bad terms.”
Hayes has signed Ryan Spencer’s brother Sam Spencer from St Neots Town Youth & Saints – he was happy to admit that much – and there have been some promotions within the club with Ryan Asher-Powell becoming a first team coach and Clive Hiscock moving up from the under-18s to manage the reserves.
Hayes said: “We want to bring young players through and Clive did such a good job with the under-18s last year that he deserves the chance to step up.
“We have also lost coach Paul Swannell to St Ives so Ryan also gets the chance to step up after an impressive season as manager of the reserves.”
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