PLAYER RELEASES IMMINENT...

WITHIN the next week or so Rhyl's management team will decide which players are to make up their final squad for the 2008/09 season.
Allowing for the addition of a reserve goalkeeper the Lilywhites currently have a 19-man pool which will need trimming before the start of the campaign. That is likely to mean the departure of some established names, especially if more signings are on the way.
Speaking on Saturday after the Lilies' first victory of the post-Europe pre-season over a Wolves side containing three first team players, senior coach Allan Bickerstaff said difficult decisions will soon have to be made.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out we'll have some players who are surplus to requirements and we'll announce in the next week or two who they are," he added.
"The main thing is we want to be organised for when the season starts; we want everyone gelling as a team.
"We've not made wholesale changes this summer, but there are some new faces.
"Jimmy Kelly is like a new signing now coming back after injury and if you look down the middle at him, Neil Roberts, Gareth Owen and Matthew Williams you've got the spine of the team."
Bickerstaff was delighted with Saturday's result against a Wanderers outfit made up largely of reserve and academy players but also including Hungarian international midfielder Denes Rosa, Republic of Ireland cap Stephen Gleeson and Elliott Bennett, who had a stint at Bury last term.
Defender John Dunleavey headed the visitors in front after just four minutes, but Carl Owen equalised after 31 and Paul O'Neill nodded in the winner on 88.
"We've been stepping up the intensity in training and are looking for that in matches now," added the senior coach.
"We didn't have the best of starts; Lee Kendall was blocked off for the corner, which was clever on their part, and they scored with a free header which was disappointing, but we recovered well.
"We want them to play through the midfield, we've got the players who can do that, and we put together some good passing phases at times.
"Results in friendlies are not the be all and end all but today was the first time we'd scored in pre-season (since Europe) and it's important to establish winning ways.
"I was pleased with the back four; Greg Strong has settled in well, both on and off the field."
And what of Josh Johnson, the Trinidadian who was at Wrexham last season and played over three-quarters of the game against Wolves?
"Josh did well but we'll need another look at him before deciding anything," Bickerstaff added.
* This article will also appear in this week's Rhyl and Prestatyn Visitor.