ALLOA boss Danny Lennon is closing on a number of new signings as he looks to rebuild is squad ahead of the new SPFL Championship season.

The Wasps saw a number of their old favourites leave the club last week as the likes of Ryan McCord, Greig Spence, Kevin Cawley and Kyle Benedictus moved onto new pastures, but while the gaffer admits it was sad to see them depart, he is now excited about the prospect of bringing fresh and exciting talent to the club to replace them.

Lennon told Advertiser Sport: “Things are really hotting up on our squad building for next season. I am currently trying my best to sun myself on holiday in Spain with my family, however, I am spending a significant amount of time each day making and receiving phone calls, texts and emails to players, agents, coaches, scouts and our chairman. I am also watching video footage of players that I am looking to bring in. A manager never really has a break in football and I am happy to sacrifice some down time to ensure we get the players we have identified.

“Thankfully, I have a wonderfully understanding and supportive wife and family. We are sad to see some players leave that I would have loved to coach next season. Kyle Benedictus will be signing for a full time club and Ryan McCord has made that step also. Kevin Cawley has decided he would like a fresh challenge and has signed for Dumbarton. They are quality players and I was delighted to manage them in the run in to the end of the season. They played a big part in our play off victories and I wish them all the best in their future careers.

“I am full of excitement for the season ahead. We have identified players that we want to bring in that will compliment the players we will be retaining from last season’s squad. Should we succeed in these signings, I believe we will have a very entertaining and capable squad of footballers to allow Alloa to compete very well in the 2nd tier in Scottish football. I believe we could surprise a number of people with our performances and results in the season ahead.” Lennon revealed he has made offers to a number of his top targets and he is hopeful of tying them up in the coming weeks before his squad return for pre-season training on June 18.

He said: “Our offers are out to the players we want and now it is a bit of a waiting game to receive their decisions. We have also arranged for some trialists to join us for preseason training, which starts on 18th June. One trialist is a powerful 21 year old French striker, who has been playing his football in Italy’s Serie B. He is keen to make his name in British football and see’s playing in the championship with Alloa as a great platform to score goals and make a name for himself. I am also inviting a couple of similar aged players who have been released by Scottish Premiership teams to train with us. I have been monitoring their progress in the U20s over the last few years and I like their qualities, but want to assess the chemistry with the squad before making a final decision on them.” The former St Mirren manager has also made it clear that he is only looking to bring in players who fit into his style of play and who he deems worthy of wearing the famous black and gold jersey.

Lennon added: “I know exactly the kind of players I want and how I want us to play next season. There is a lot of business to be done in the next few weeks, but we have all the wheels in motion. It was an exciting start to my time at Alloa and I am looking to continue that buzz at our club throughout the season ahead through the quality of the players we have wearing our shirt, the performances we produce and the results that we earn.”