RECENT results may not have been encouraging but they have not persuaded St Albans City to review its objectives this season.

"We wanted a top eight finish and we're not revising that," said co-manager Gary Roberts, "but it will be harder to achieve."

Steve Cook, who makes up the other half of the management team at Clarence Park, expressed similar sentiments

He said: "We're paying the price for an extremely stretched squad but we've got a bit of breathing space now to regroup and a top eight place is still very realistic for us."

On a grander scale, the spate of injuries do not influence the three-year plan introduced by Roberts and Cook when they came to the club in the summer.

"This season we want to improve on last year and hopefully generate a bit more interest in the club in the town," commented Cook.

"Hopefully we can build on that in our second year and then be in a position to challenge for honours in the third year. But anyone who knows Gary and I will know that we don't want to just make up the numbers this season."

To this end, the pair are making good use of their contacts in the game with regards to adding to and strengthening the squad.

Consequently, a few new faces might be around when the Saints resume action on October 20 at Heybridge Swifts.

A seven-day approach has recently been made for Leon Woodruffe, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder with a good goal-scoring record at Harrow Borough, adding to those for strikers Jimmy Sagrue, currently with Aldershot Town and Lee Allen, who is at Enfield.

The club is also hopeful of signing a Conference League striker on a short-term (two to four weeks) loan while a Conference League centre back last season - currently unattached - will meet with the Saints on Friday, October 12, after discussions with arch rivals Chesham United today.

These players form part of 'hit-list' which also includes a Conference centre half, a Dr Martens Premier Division forward, a Dr Martens Premier Division centre back plus a striker and centre back from the Rymans Premier Division.

Roberts revealed that some of these players have already been contacted with a view to signing pre-contracts in January.

"Realistically, we would expect to get four or five of them. I always target 50%," Roberts said.

Additionally, the club are hoping to attract three midfielders. "Hopefully we'll get one before Christmas and the other two on pre-contracts in the new year."

Making this financially viable, Roberts said that they will have to "move people about."

He explained that of the current squad, about seven or eight are certain to be part of their plans next season, with another three or four being considered. "Between now and the end of January we'll have a hard look at our players, but most of them will be here until the end of the season at least.

"We haven't got enough cover at the moment. We're quite a small squad."

Club chairman Lee Harding concluded: "Obviously they want to strengthen the squad and I'm more than happy with the way they are managing the budget. I'm not going to put objectives down to put added pressure on Steve and Gary.

"We've had a fair share of bad luck but these things even themselves out. We're not going to get impatient."

October 11, 2001 19:03

Alan Feldberg