St Albans City is forging new links to boost professionalism at the club.

Joint managers James Gray and Graham Golds have a growing contacts list in the professional game, which they have utilised well this season.

City have loaned Sean Shields, Nathan Green, Jon Nouble and Ian Gayle from Dagenham and Redbridge and Charlie Smith from Luton Town.

First-team coach Harry Wheeler, who is the U18 manager at the Daggers, has been a vital link between the semi- and professional games, and was credited with helping the Saints secure Jo N’Guessan on loan from Stevenage this week.

“Opening links is what we’re trying to do,” said Gray. “When we took over we didn’t have a great contacts list but it’s getting better. Harry is good; he’s got great contacts and sort out the loan for Jo.

“It opens a good link with Stevenage and obviously that’s a plus. We want to finish the season strong so when we interact with the players in and ones who aren’t, they can see we’ve had a good season.”

It’s not just football clubs that St Albans is reaching out to; this week the club brought in a psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire and it’s hoping to expand the link.

“We’re trying to open links there, too; we want to get someone to film games. Behind the scenes we’re really trying to get going because they can offer us something and vice versa.”