PORTLAND UNITED manager Gary Bailey has been busy preparing for life in Wessex Division One next term, having made new recruits to both his playing squad and coaching staff.

Kyle Critchell will take the reigns as assistant-manager and first-team head coach at Grove Corner, succeeding former number two Derek McKay, who has decided to step down from the role.

However, McKay will still be a part of the islanders’ set-up next term.

Critchell, pictured, has also signed forms to take part as a player for the upcoming campaign and Bailey expressed his delight in the addition of the former Wales under- 21 international.

“It’s an exciting development and I’m sure the players are looking forward to working with him,”

the island chief told Echosport.

“Kyle is starting out on his coaching journey, he has got his level two and wants to get his UEFA B and his footballing career is there for everyone to see.

“He has signed as a player as well and that’s his decision. He knows his body and, it’s not to say that he won’t play a part when needed, but primarily he will be the assistant-manager.

“We have already been working hard to plan pre-season and meet with players.”

Two new signings the Blues have been able to tie down already for next season are former Weymouth midfielder Gareth Will and ex-Chickerell United defender Tom Peck.

Speaking about the capture of Will, who featured for the Terras’ first-team last term, Bailey added: “He is a young lad that has been on our radar for a couple of seasons really.

“He has developed nicely with Weymouth Reserves and I’m sure they will be disappointed to lose him. They won’t want to lose their players but the step up to the Wessex League intrigued him and he was excited about that.

“He is exactly what we were looking to bring in. Hopefully we can help develop him and take him to the next level in his career, he will be a great asset to us.”

Quizzed about Peck, the Blues’ manager added: “Tom is a lad I have known for a while. He played his way up the youth system with Chickerell and had a couple of years in their DPL side.

“He has been away for a few years at university and has been playing at the equivalent to Wessex League level. He will be perfect for us to bring a bit of extra energy and enthusiasm as a fresh face.”

On retaining his current squad, Bailey claimed: “We have a get together next week some time when hopefully I am going to tie down the loose ends with everybody else.

“We are looking to bring in players who will add quality to the squad and that means they have to be of equal or better calibre to who we already have.

“It is not a case of ripping things up and starting again, we are happy with what we have and we want to add to it.”

Bailey also indicated that the Blues should soon receive an update on funding to upgrade their floodlights.