KENDAL Town manager Steve Edmondson hopes to add some new names to his squad before today's home tie against Marine.

Players both local and recommended from outside the area trained at the Parkside Road outfit on Wednesday night and if they impress, some of the players, who play in positions across the pitch, could feature in the team this afternoon.

Last Saturday’s match at league leaders North Ferriby United saw several forced changes to the side.

Maison McGeechan has gone on a four-week holiday which had already been organised before he arrived at the Black and Whites, while Craig Dootson is out with injury.

He was replaced by new signing Ryan Robinson, who impressed with a couple of excellent saves in the second half. Kendal-born Robinson signed for the club from Northwich Victoria, where former Town manager Lee Ashcroft is the boss.

“Ryan Robinson is a fantastic signing, he fits the club’s remit and will provide great competition with Craig Dootson for the goalkeeper’s jersey,” said Edmondson.

Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart McDonald, also from Kendal, was another to make his debut in the defeat to North Ferriby United having been injured for a full year. The signing from Gretna was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday and replaced centre back Dean Overson, with Martin Grundy pushing back into the middle of defence from midfield.

Overson’s one-month loan from Bradford City finished last week, but Edmondson and club secretary Craig Campbell are working on bringing him back to the club for another month.

Carlisle United youth players Alex Salmon and Tom Berwick play their last match for the Black and Whites against Marine before their one-month loan is up, but talks will be held with the League One side to extend their stay as well.

Edmondson added: “It was a fair result against North Ferriby on Saturday but we could have nicked it at the end,” said Edmondson.

“Against the league leaders and 2-0 down the spirit and fitness shown by the players in the second half was superb.

“The decision to give North Ferriby a penalty was a shocker but when you’re down there towards the bottom things don’t always seem to go for you.

“We’re looking forward to playing Marine so if we can play like we did in the second half against North Ferriby then hopefully we can get something out of the match at the weekend.”

Fourth-placed Marine, who Kendal drew with 2-2 in September, have hit a bad patch of form having lost their last three games over the festive period against Whitby Town, AFC Fylde and Chorley.

Meanwhile two more matches have been re-arranged. Kendal’s home match against Southport in the Lancashire Co-Operative Challenge Cup will now take place on Tuesday, January 29 because the Blue Square Bet Premier Division side are playing Tamworth in the league next Tuesday.

The Mintcakes’ trip to Hednesford Town has also been organised for Tuesday, March 26.

- KENDAL Town have appointed Mark Simpson as the new manager of the reserve side to replace Dave Foster, who has moved up to become first team assistant manager to Edmondson.

Simpson has brought in Steve Whitehouse as reserve team coach.