Taunton set to lose Welch and Pounde (From This is The West Country)

Taunton set to lose Welch and Pounde

12:30pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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TAUNTON Town manager Paul West is pleased with the way his squad is shaping up even though he expects to lose another two of last season’s squad.

Centre back Scott Thomas has already left to join league rivals Yate Town, while Charlie Welch and striker Alex Pounde are both likely to leave the club.

Welch has said he wants to take a year off from football to concentrate on his business, while Pounde has not attended any of the club’s pre-season training sessions.

However, midfielder Andy Butler, one of West’s pre-season targets who played for Wellington last season, has been to training as has defender Owen Irish, who was approached by Truro City last season.

West said: “The first three training sessions have gone really well. All of last season’s squad have been there apart from Scott Thomas, Charlie Welch and Alex Pounde, who I haven’t heard from yet so I don’t expect to sign him.

“Andy Butler has also been training and I’m confident he will sign.

“I’m happy with the squad I’ve got and I only want players that want to play for Taunton Town.

“The sessions have been tough but we’ve tried to mix things up a bit and also done some work out at the Norton Manor Marine Camp.”

West has appointed marine Ian Mitchum, a former Margate player, as coach and he joins assistant-boss Paul Short on the management team.

Meanwhile, Taunton have finalised their list of pre-season friendlies which no longer features Minehead.

West cancelled the match to avoid an overload of matches.

The games are Keynsham (a) July 21, Liskeard (h) July 25, Hallen (a) July 28, Saltash (h) August 1, Street (h) August 5.

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