Morpeth Town manager Nicky Gray has backed new signing Sean Reid to fill the void left by David Carson’s departure to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The Blyth Spartans midfielder became Gray’s first new addition of the summer as the Highwaymen boss moved quickly to replace the outgoing Carson.
Reid, 27, was a key figure at Spartans and scored 66 goals in 187 appearances during a four-year stay at Croft Park.
Gray has long admired the midfielder since his time in the Northern League with West Allotment Celtic and he insisted that Reid will become a pivotal figure as his new side prepare for their first ever season in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division.
He told the club’s website: “I am delighted for him (Carson) because he had a great season last year, and he will be the first to admit that he had great players around him to help him do that.
“Sean Reid is a similar style of player and he has more experience at this level.
“I am sure the fans will love him, and Sean is a player that will do defensive duties, he’ll score goals, he’ll create chances and I think we have a ready-made replacement for David Carson.
“We got him in straightaway, which is really good for the club.
“He is a player that we have admired for a long time.
“He has improved every season; he is a good age and I think he will be good in the dressing room.”
Gray has added four new faces to his squad ahead of the new season.
Spennymoor Town defender Kris Thackray joined the club just days after Reid had become his first addition of the summer.
And earlier this week, he added South Shields striker Ben Harmison and West Auckland Town midfielder Michael McKeown to his squad.
Gray believes that the new signings mean that his squad are “in a good place” ahead of a historic season.
“We have Kris Thackray – a fantastic addition to the club,” said the Highwaymen boss.
“Ben Harmison and Michael McKeown are both players that have been on the radar.
“We tried to get Ben last year and he is in an area where we needed a bit of competition.
“Michael is another player we tried to get a year or two ago, but he chose to stay in the Northern League.
“Last year, by his own admission, he was disappointed with how last season went at West Auckland because he didn’t play as much football as he wanted to.
“But he is chomping at the bit now.
“We have a couple of other young players coming in, who we will announce in due course.
“They are players that want to join in and flourish at this club.
“We are in a good place.”
