Blue Square South Guide

   City get set for new season

Bath City will begin the 2008/09 Blue Square South season with at least four new faces in their ranks after manager John Relish identified the need to add more quality to a side who narrowly missed out on the play-offs in their debut season.
In have come defender Paul Cochlin from Newport County, a left sided centre back who has represented Great Britain at the World Student Games. Many County observers were dissapointed to see the tall left footer leave Spytty Park in the summer and his versatality should add extra strength to an already strong City defence. In one of the signings of the summer in the division, Relish lured one time Stockport County and Northampton Town winger Ali Gibb from Coca Cola League One side Hartlepool United after his contract expired at the end of June. The Chepstow based flyer has dropped into part-time football in order to pursue a new career and his signature is something of a coup for the Twerton Park club. A contract at Notts County was on the table for the coming season but despite having a successful period on loan at Meadow Lane last season the Salisbury born player agreed a one year contract with City.
Former favourite Jamie Gosling has returned after five years away with a host of professional clubs after initially joining Yeovil Town in 2003 for a four figure fee in the Glovers debut Football League campaign. Spells at Torquay United, Aldershot Town, Woking and Forest Green Rovers were preceded by a drop into lower level football where Gosling spent two years in the Hellenic League playing for Hungerford Town. It appears the skillful midfielder has his appetite back after a hugely successful spell at Bulpit Lane and with despite reported interest from Blue Square Premier Forest Green Rovers and Coca Cola League One side Swindon Town he chose a years contract at the club where he enjoyed his most productive football.
Striker Stuart Douglas has arrived from Blue Square Premier Weymouth where he was released in May and the trainee pysiotherapist can list over 150 Football League appearances with Luton Town, Boston United and Oxford United. Despite not being a regular goalscorer City supremo Relish will be hoping the pacy frontman can help lay on the goals for fellow strikers Dave Gilroy and Darren Edwards.
With two or three other trialists set to earn places in the squad come August City should certainly have the extra strength in depth that they so badly lacked last season. Extra pace has been added to the side but up front could be the area where City remain weakest and must hope the midfield quartet of Hogg, Gibb and Gosling can score the goals to take the pressure off last seasons leading goal getter Dave Gilroy.
Optimism will be high and if the new boys gell and City hit the ground running then a play-off place could well be within their grasp.

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