Castle looking forward to getting back to business

CITY boss Steve Castle is looking forward to getting back to business when pre-season training starts up at Oaklands College next week. The City squad report back on Wednesday for their first session and Castle is hoping to pull out a few surprises. I m

CITY boss Steve Castle is looking forward to getting back to business when pre-season training starts up at Oaklands College next week.

The City squad report back on Wednesday for their first session and Castle is hoping to pull out a few surprises.

"I'm looking forward to getting back," Castle told The Herts Advertiser.

"We've got a few people to look at and I think we've got some nice surprises that people will be pleased with over the coming weeks."

The club have been dealt a blow with the news that both Hector Mackie and Scott Cousins have moved on, just a week after Paul Hakim revealed he might be forced to retire.

Cousins has left to join Carshalton Athletic while Mackie has signed for Weymouth after relocating to Bath to study at university and Castle says both players leave with his best wishes.

"I think Hector wanted to continue playing for St Albans City but with moving to Bath to continue his education the logistics were neigh on impossible," he said.

"With the TeamBath management going to Weymouth there are still links with Bath [University] and he went for a trial and earned himself a contract.

"It's the same with Scott, they both go with my best wishes.