Ricky Marheineke confirms Huntingdon interest in March Town four

HUNTINGDON Town manager Ricky Marheineke will cast his eye over four players from Eastern Counties League side March Town United during pre-season.

Marheineke, who guided his team to the United Counties Division One title last season, was contacted by Marc Welcher, Stu Anderson and Lewis Cook from the Thurlow Nunn Division One side – and they look set to be joined by Luke Pepper, who the Huntingdon manager has approached himself.

March have just appointed a new manager, Paul Crosbie, after losing former boss Brett Whaley and six players to Yaxley. The three who approached Huntingdon are looking for a way out of a club that is in disarray. Pepper was the Hares’ captain last season when they finished an impressive fourth in the ECL Divison One table behind champions Godmanchester Rovers, Thetford Town and Whitton United. Pepper recently told The Hunts Post’s sister paper The Wisbech Standard: “It seems to be going round in circles at March and now it’s all change again. It’s frustrating because I was optimistic after such a good season.

“I’m not going to get too many more opportunities to make a go of it in a different league so really I have to start considering it.”

Marheineke told The Hunts Post: “I have spoken to five or six players. I will be taking a look at them in pre-season. As far as signings go – there is no news yet.

“I know Marc Welcher very well and my assistant Paul Swannell knows the other two lads, so I will have a look at them.”

Huntingdon won promotion to the Premier Division of the UCL last season and will be up against some tough opposition. St Ives Town and Spalding United look like being the two teams to beat in the division but Marheineke isn’t setting his sights too high. Not just yet, anyway. He said: “As it stands, our budget will be the same as last season. The chairman wants the club to be self-sufficient, so we will have the smallest budget in the division.

“We will only be able to afford to wheel and deal.”

Marheineke is confident of keeping his promotion squad together though – and says the players who were successful last season deserve the chance to prove they are capable of playing at the higher level. He also confirmed that he is expecting Latvian striker Niks Savalnieks to return after spending the second half of last season with the club following his move from Cambridge City.

“I’m keen to give everyone the opportunity to play in the Premier Division,” he said. “I am aware I will have to try to strengthen the squad, despite the budget restraints.

“If we can finish in mid-table then I will be satisfied.”

News of the club’s pre-season friendly list is expected this week.