My No.1 target

John Sheridan

ATHLETIC will look to add a further six or seven new players to the squad before next season kicks off, with a goalkeeper at the top of manager John Sheridan's shopping list.

Connor Ripley's return to Middlesbrough leaves the number one jersey as-yet untaken.

With Lee Erwin back with Leeds and Michael Ngoo released, a new goal-getter will also be near the top of Sheridan's agenda for 2017-18.

And the boss is also keen to tweak matters in terms of training facilities, so that ideally the club can move forward and be in a good position to better this season's finish of 17th in Sky Bet League One.

"I will be looking at a squad of around probably 22 or 23 for next season," Sheridan said.

"Connor will be a massive miss and if you want to look at a main priority, your goalkeeper will probably be the number one after he was so successful in the way he played in keeping us clean sheets.

"I have identified players where I feel we need to strengthen.

'STRENGTHENING'

"I think I know where we need strengthening, but I will keep that to myself. Hopefully, there will be lots of players available and people getting released.

"A lot of clubs will be looking for the same things, so I am fighting against other clubs.

"I will make those decisions and identify where we need strengthening.

"I like to get my players, if I can, in so I know what I have got. Loans will be a part of it and they will probably be later on.

"But I like to get one or two in early."

Athletic, who held a board meeting on Wednesday to discuss plans for the upcoming season, are believed to have looked into bringing in an outside firm to help look after a pitch that suffered from weather damage during the winter months.

"Training facilities and the pitch are on my agenda and I definitely think improvements will make us better," added Sheridan.

"The pitch has probably helped us, ironically, in the last two years so maybe I should be careful!

"We need to improve on our training facilities. I am not a manager who asks for a lot. We are not Manchester City or Manchester United.

"You get by with what you have got and that's what I am used to here. But there are one or two things that if we can adjust them, will improve us and make us better."

FORMER Athletic striker Lee Hughes has been appointed joint-manager of Worcester City.

The 40-year-old has left his playing role at Telford to take up the job alongside John Snape at a club that has this season suffered relegation from the Vanarama National League North.