STABILITY will be the key to success for John Brough as North Leigh open their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West campaign away to Bridgwater Town.

After taking over in May from Mark Gee, having won the league with Cinderford Town, the new boss could have made sweeping changes.

But Brough maintains his belief the squad he inherited is good enough to compete at the top of the division.

“The reason I came to North Leigh was because of the squad they had in place,” he said.

“They already had some very good players, so my job is just to mould them into a functioning team.”

New arrivals have been thin on the ground, with striker Eric Odhiambo the most notable piece of business.

PLAYERS IN

Conor Thompson (Evesham Utd), Richard Platt (Banbury Utd), Eric Odhiambo (Kidlington).

PLAYERS OUT

Zak Westlake (Swindon Supermarine), Steve Davies (Shortwood Utd), Sam Elkins (Didcot Tn), Jon Else (Cirencester Tn), Ben Brown.

ANDY Ballard is backing Ben Whitehead to be a success at Didcot Town after signing from Chippenham Town.

The former Wantage Town hotshot is due to begin his second spell with the club when the Railwaymen host Swindon Supermarine in their opener.

Town boss Ballard admitted it was a blow to lose last season’s top-scorer Mark Janes to Banbury United, but believes Whitehead will prove an able replacement.

He said: “Luckily enough, we’ve been able to bring in a player who scored 18 goals last season for Wantage and Chippenham and straight away you can see he has been playing at a higher level.”

PLAYERS IN

Ryan Brooks (Kidlington), Nick Thorne (Carterton), Sam Barder, Harry Whitehead (both Wantage Tn), Sam Elkins (North Leigh), Ben Whitehead (Chippenham Tn).

PLAYERS OUT

Jack Self, Mark Janes (both Banbury Utd).

PLAYER-MANAGER Stuart Cattell believes he has assembled a side with a point to prove at Wantage Town.

The Alfredians lost six players over the summer, including Sam Barder and Harry Whitehead.

But Cattell remains upbeat his side can hold their own.

“We’ve got the hardest job in local football,” he said.

“Because we can’t offer a lot of money to bring in big names we’ve got a squad of younger players with a bit of fire in their bellies.”

PLAYERS IN

Niall Hodgkins (Milton Utd), Boyan Thorpe (John Madejski Academy), Kai Robinson (New College Swindon), Todd Hathaway (Fairford Tn), Sam Brown (Swindon Supermarine), Connor Johns (Swindon Tn), Mason Thompson.

PLAYERS OUT

Sam Barder, Harry Whitehead (both Didcot Tn), Josias Carbon (retired), Gio Wrona, Sam Collier (Carterton), Karl Evans.

KIDLINGTON make their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 Central debut tomorrow afternoon away to Royston Town following a busy summer.

Several key players from the side which stormed to the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division title have moved on.

Last season’s 37-goal top-scorer Anaclet Odhiambo and players’ and manager’s player of the season Lewis Gabbidon are among those to leave, joining departing coach Julian McCalmon at league rivals Marlow.

“I think we have a very good squad, but it has been a challenging summer, made much more difficult because a number of players and staff chose to leave the club,”

admitted manager Martin Wilkinson.

“Overall, we’ve lost six first team players and one member of staff.

“However, I am not one to look back and I am delighted with the signings we’ve made and you can rest assured that we will have a very capable squad going forward.”

PLAYERS IN

Jack Dunmall (Carterton), Louis Joyce (Banbury Utd).

PLAYERS OUT

Anaclet Odhiambo (Marlow), Lewis Gabbidon (Marlow), Ryan Brooks (Didcot Tn), Jimmy Deabill (retired – injury), Henry Owen (retired – injury), Eric Odhiambo (North Leigh).