Hereford United chief Graham Turner has signed two midfielders as he looks to rebuild the squad after a player clear-out at the end of last season, writes Ian Morgan.

Former Arsenal trainee Ben Smith and ex-United player Jamie Pitman are Turner's first captures of the summer, having signed season-long deals.

Smith, aged 23, spent last term at Southend United but made only one substitutes' appearance, with injuries denying him the chance to impress.

Locally-based Pitman will need no introduction to Bulls fans, having previously been at Edgar Street between February 1996 and May 1998, and he scored a goal for Woking which knocked Hereford out of the FA Cup in October 2000.

Pitman, 26, who was recently released by Conference rivals Woking, has also spent time with Yeovil Town. He made 21 Football League appearances for Hereford.

Speaking of Smith, Turner said: "Ben did very well at Yeovil under David Webb. Technically he is a very good player."

Of Pitman, he said: "He works in Hereford and phoned me to say that he was struggling to get to Woking for training and he indicated his desire to come back here. Jamie can play right-back, wide right or central midfield and he has signed a part-time contract."

Turner, who travelled to the Birmingham area yesterday to speak to a potential signing, said: "Not all the players we are speaking to will end up at Hereford. For instance, we were hoping to sign Paul Tait from Crewe but he chose to join Bristol Rovers."

Meanwhile, United have arranged a pre-season home friendly with Second Division Swindon Town on Tuesday, July 23 (7.45pm). The Robins have now paid United £4,000 which was outstanding from Novem-ber's FA Cup second round meeting between the clubs.

l United supporters are meeting at the Richmond Club at 7pm today to discuss the proposed supporters' trust.