A FAMILIAR face will be returning to play in Hereford next season as one of five new signing in a strengthened Westfields team.

Former Hereford United winger Tyler Weir has joined the Allpay Park outfit along with new assistant coach Paul Willetts.

Weir, 27, from Ledbury, played for promotion rivals Worcester City during the majority of last season along with spells at Hednesford Town and Redditch United.

Head Coach Andy Bevan along with Head of Football Sean Edwards have persuaded Weir to join Westfields with the defender sighting the facilities at Allpay Park a deciding factor.

He join former Stourport Swifts defender Paul Hurrell, former Southern league player Ollie Butler along with Keanu Cooper, goalkeeper Ian Harvard and full-back Josh Webb.

The club have also resigned the majority of last season's team with the exception of captain Phil Glover who has left after 10 years at the club.

Bevan hopes that the signings will help the club's style of football and make them stronger defensively.

"We wanted more locally based players so we could create more of a spirit and get more training done so that we can create an ethos," said Bevan.

"We are absolutely delighted with the players that we've got. It's no secret that we like to play a high pressing game and we were ultimately struggling at the back, so we have strengthened those areas.

"Both times we have finished second in the Midlands Football League we have had strong full-backs defensively and going forwards. We have done really well to get Tyler (Weir) as he is 27 years old with experience, he is not yet in his prime so hopefully we can get the best out of him.

"Paul (Hurrell) was the linchpin in the Stourport defence every time we played them and he is also comfortable on the ball. Olly (Butler) was in the Gloucestershire team of the season and has stepped down from the Southern League.

"We have also got Josh Webb who has been out of the game for 12 months but has got pedigree having been at Stoke and Crew Academy so I want to see more of him in pre-season.

"We have a couple more in the pipeline but the majority of our business is now done so if anybody comes on board it will be to strengthen what we've already got."

Westfields squad will be preparing for a tough pre-season as new assistant coach Willetts is also a physical training instructor in the navy.

"I'm really impressed with the squad which has an average age of 25 or 26," added Bevan.

"However, I want us to be faster, fitter and stronger which is why we have brought Paul in."