STEPHEN Reed reckons the Terras should be knocking on the door of the top 10 this season following a trio of excellent signings.

The talented playmaker has noticed huge progress throughout the club over the past couple of months and cannot wait to get back into the thick of the action when the new campaign gets underway next month.

Reed told Echosport: “Things are really looking up and hopefully we can go on and have a good season.

“It has been nice to see us bring in a few players from a higher league in Barry McConnell, Danny Clay and Scott Walker, and their experience is going to make everyone’s lives a lot easier.

“Their talking and knowledge is going to be invaluable and everyone is going to know in no uncertain terms what is expected.

“They have all been there and done it and if they can help apply those good standards to our level and we can get off to a decent start who knows where it could take us.

“Everyone at the club has certainly been working hard through the summer and when I look at our midfield in particular, it is looking very appealing indeed.

“With Danny and me in the middle, Craig Duff on the right and Scott Walker on the left, and the added experience around the whole team, we should be knocking on the door of the top 10 at least.

“All we need now is to get a couple more in, including a striker, and we will be ready and raring to go.

“Looking at some of the sides in the Southern Premier this year the league looks like it could be even more competitive than the last couple of years but if we apply ourselves right I am confident we will more than hold our own.”

When asked to comment on the recent departure of striker Warren Byerley, the club’s top-scorer for the past two seasons, Reed went on to add: “Opportunities to go full-time do not come along often and as a player you have to grab them with both hands.

“Warren and Ben Gerring have done exactly that at Kettering Town and although it is disappointing to see them go I wish them both all the best.

“It is a shame because on their day, they can both be outstanding at this level but players move around all the time in football nowadays and you just have to get on with it.

“We have managed to bring in some cracking players ourselves this summer and looking at the spirit in the camp in training you can see the boys just cannot wait to get started.

“We look a lot stronger than this time last year and at the moment it feels a great place to be around, so long may that continue.”

* Nigel Biddlecombe is holding a ‘Chairman’s Clinic’ on Friday from 4-8pm where anyone with any questions about the club can pop in and see him at the stadium face to face.