DUDLEY Sports have swooped for former Stourbridge youth team captain Matt Preston.

The West Midlands Premier side are hoping the defender, who lead the Glassboys youngsters to a second successive treble-winning season, will help tighten a defensive line which leaked 88 goals last term.

Joint boss Tony Gore admitted he and Paul Blakeley were working hard to add four or five more new faces before the return to pre-season training on June 30.

He said: “Matt has agreed to join us and we are pleased about that.

“It’s been a hectic few weeks and we’ve been speaking to a number of players, we are waiting to hear back from two or three of them and I should know more by the end of the week.

“More or less everybody from last season has committed themselves to coming back so we should be building from a strong base.

“It wasn’t a bad season overall for us last year, if we can get the lads we are after I think we will be in good shape.”

While Gore (pictured) is happy with the way the close season is progressing, he is less enthused about the likelihood of Sports missing out on the FA Cup for the second year running.

After finishing 14th in the table, their slim hopes of being included now look microscopic after the FA confirmed only the top four teams were guaranteed a spot - and not the top ten as initially thought.

Gore said: “I think it’s scandalous. We apply every year and you are always hopeful of getting in but with the news only the top four are eligible, we are not expecting to be in.

“At this level of football there is only ever one promotion place and the FA Cup is massive - this leaves you wondering what you are playing for.

“Two years ago we won two games and reached the first qualifying round, it brought in £3,000 for the club which was a relative fortune.”