New Long Eaton United managers Mark Harvey and Glyn Stacey have wasted no time in reshaping their squad for the new season ? with the help of some old friends.

The joint bosses, who took up their role at Grange Park from the beginning of May, have secured the signatures of 16 players, all from step six of the non-league football system or higher.

And seven of these recruits come from Harvey and Stacey's former club, South Normanton Athletic, which was forced to fold in June after failing to find new owners.

As a result, the managerial partners invited their former players to join them at pre-season training.

Harvey told the Derbyshire Evening Telegraph: "It's all coming together. We had so many people at training, between 45 and 50, and got a few more to sign some forms.

"We've got 16 lads who have signed for us from Northern Counties East level or higher, so we have some experienced people on board.

"The bulk of the squad is the formation of Long Eaton and South Normanton and we're hoping to get the best from both.

"Adam Newton, Josh Watts and Mick Allsop have all re-signed from Long Eaton and we have kept the latter as captain."

And Harvey had plenty of praise for the players who join Long Eaton from his former Lees Lane outfit.

He said: "Bringing in players from South Normanton was always likely to happen and loads of them were keen to come down here.

"Paul Gamble, who was at Shepshed Dynamo before moving to South Normanton, has joined us, as has Dean Whiley ? he's a quality centre-half and was Player of the Year for the last two seasons.

"Joe Atkinson has signed for us, along with goalkeeper Ross Whalin ? he played under Glyn at Long Eaton United before coming to South Normanton.

"Both of us rate him really highly. We're delighted to have because he's worth 10 points in the league. It will also be great not to have to step into goal anymore, like I had to last season."

In addition to recruiting players from the two Northern Counties East outfits, Harvey and Stacey have also recruited from elsewhere.

These include Pablo Piliero, from Carlton Town, Simon Johnson of Shirebrook Town, and Kev Mabon who had a brief spell at South Normanton before being ruled out with injury.