THERE are several players on trial at Hereford FC this week including a goalkeeper looking for a place in Pete Beadle's squad ahead of the new season.

The 19-man squad returned back to training this week and there are a handful of unsigned players who are looking to prove their qualities.

The Bulls currently only have one goalkeeper signed for the coming season in Martin Horsell after Will Puddy rejected an offer to stay at the club.

"We have got four or five on trial at the moment and looking at them this week and they will get some game-time next week and then we will make a quick decision on them whether we keep them or release them," said Hereford manager Beadle speaking at the team's photo shoot earlier today.

"They are going to have to work and play extremely well to force their way into this group because it's already quite strong. We are probably looking for another centre-half and goalkeeper but we're only in our first week of pre-season so we're not in any huge rush with that.

"We already have 19 signed and if we add a goalkeeper and centre-half then we are up to 21 already which is a pretty good number. We will take our time and see what becomes available over the coming weeks.

"We have got a goalkeeper on trial here at the minute so he will play most of if not all the game on Saturday (against Pegasus Juniors) so we can have a look at him."

Beadle is pleased with the condition of the players and said that the new signings have made his squad 'fractionally stronger' than last season.

"The players have had three sessions in five days and have come back fit and well," Beadle added.

"We normally have six week pre-season but this season have gone with five after a guess that the players would come back in good nick and they have done.

"We have done some fitness testing this morning (Saturday) and will go into more game stuff next week ready for the first match on Saturday. As a group they have already bonded really well and the five we have brought in already knew some of our players already as there paths have crossed somewhere else.

"With the players that we have retained from last year it will be a very quick transition for the new ones coming in and we can hit the ground running and we need to.

"We are a little bit stronger as four of the five have all played at this level or above. At the moment we are fractionally stronger than we were a little bit last year but you can never tell for certain until 10 games in and you look at it again."