Stafford have secured the services of three players for next season as manager Chris Brindley’s recruitment drive steps up a gear.

Striker Nick Wellecomme and midfielder Bobby Wilson have both signed on for another season, while the first new face has also been pinned down – Chasetown goalkeeper Lee Evans.

The 25-year-old joins after previous No 1 Tim Sandercombe swapped Rangers to return to the full-time game in the Blue Square Premier with Mansfield.

Wilson came back to Marston Road in March after a spell with Gainsborough and has now agreed to stay at the club for the season ahead.

To secure Wellecomme’s future is another boost, the hometown hitman was just starting to come good at the back end of last season, with three goals in a four match spell.

Brindley will also run the rule over a number of trial players when the squad return for pre-season training next month, in the hope of unearthing some hidden gems for 2009/10.

He said: “Bobby and Nick are definitely signed for next season and we have brought in Lee from Chasetown as well. Five or six more have verbally agreed to sign, but until they have done there will be no word on that.

“We will have a number of trialists with us for pre-season as well, so obviously we can cherry pick a few of them to pad the squad out if needs be.

“The door is always open here for good players.”