HEYBRIDGE Swifts manager Cliff Akurang has moved to bolstered his backroom staff as he prepares for his first pre-season with the club.

Bob Batchford and Mark Ashford have joined as first team coaches at Scraley Road while Akurang has retained the services of his assistant manager Gavin Dawes for the new Ryman League division one north season.

Akurang said: “Gavin is an expert in player recruitment and motivation.

“I’m sure the fans and players will be as delighted as am I to have him barking orders at them from the side for another season.”

Ashford has recently been working with the Bishop’s Stortford Under-21’s and won the Eastern Junior Alliance last season and was a target for other clubs this summer.

Akurang said: “Mark is a good friend and fantastic new coach and he is another expert in player development and coaching coming on board.”

Batchford has been part of Chelmsford City for over ten years and has worked behind the scenes at the Clarets and has also been found tending to the pitch as well as many other tasks around the club.

Akurang said: “Bob is also a good friend I’ve known a long time and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of running clubs.

“He had been working at Chelmsford City, responsible for finding the players that made up arguably Chelmsford's greatest team in the Conference South.

“He (Bob) will bring attention to detail on opposition strategy and tactical insight.”