HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Cliff Akurang is delighted to have held on to three key players for next season’s campaign.

Top goal-scorer Billy Hunt, captain Danny Barber and central defender Damien Green have all signed on the dotted line to stay at Scraley Road for the new Ryman League division one north season.

Akurang has also added striker Alex Andrews to his line-up, making the short journey from division rivals Maldon & Tiptree.

However, Swifts keeper Danny Sambridge has travelled in the other direction to join the Park Drive club.

Leading goalscorer and player-of-the-year Hunt netted 21 goals in 49 appearances last season and Akurang was pleased that he decided to recommit to the club.

He said: “It is fantastic news that Billy has re-signed to the club. With the season we had, for him to score that many goals was great. He is an outstanding professional and a good example to the rest of the team and the young players in the side.

“He has deserved the vice-captain role we have given him.

“To score the goals he did when the team weren’t doing well was exceptional and then when we turned things around he was prolific.”

But Akurang revealed that they had to fend off interest from a number of clubs for Swifts’ star striker.

The Heybridge boss said: “We had to fight off stiff approaches from other clubs.

“The non-league vultures were circling and rightly so after the season Billy had had.”

However, Akurang was saddened to see keeper Sambridge leave to join the Jammers.

He said: “I was disappointed to see Danny go but I wish him all the best in the future. He wanted to try his luck at another club.”

But his disappointment was tempered by the arrival of Andrews.

Akurang said: “Alex is a goal-poacher and is a very good player out wide as well. I know him well. He came with me to Maldon and has now joined me at Swifts. He is a very good young footballer and is one for the future and is exciting to watch.

“Hopefully he can put bums on seats when he is unleashed. He is raring to go and ready for the new season.”

And Akurang was also full of praise for skipper Barber as well.

He said: “Keeping hold of Danny was vitally important for the club. What he has done around the club makes him a legend here. He is someone the young players can look up to and he is a great player.”