IT HAS been a busy close season for Andover Lions following the disappointments of last season which saw them finish ninth in Division 1 of the Hampshire Premier League.

John Smith, who guided The Arms to success in the Andover and District Sunday League and the Hampshire Intermediate Cup, has been installed as manager and has already started to assemble a strong squad.

Smith has made four new editions to his team including the likes of Ollie Yates, who played 32 league games for Andover Town last season and Joe Wright, who has previously seen success with Winchester City and Alresford Town, Prolific striker Shane Lock also joins Lions from Andover New Street alongside Tommy Stringer, who was a key player for last season’s Division 1 champions Infinity.

Smith’s backroom team has also been assembled and includes exAndover player Matty Styles as his number two and Jason Holmes, who has been brought in as a coach.

Off the pitch it has been just as busy with the club signing a five year lease with Test Valley Borough New signing Ollie Yates played in Andover Lion’s recent pre-season friendly against Shrewton Council for the athletics track pitch and facilities.

This will grant Lions their own home for the first time since it was formed following the demise of Andover FC in 2011.

Works will start shortly that will see the Lions with a social room for club functions and post match refreshments as well as larger refurbished changing rooms for their own dedicated use.

They have already secured the honours board from Andover FC and this will have pride of place in the new clubhouse with the new Lions team keen to add to the existing list of successes.

The early signs are good with an encouraging performance in the annual Shrewton Sixes that saw them finish runners-up to a strong Shaftesbury side.

Lions then followed by a 3-1 victory over Shrewton of the Wilts Premier League in the first pre-season friendly last Wednesday.

Future friendlies are planned with QK Southampton, Laverstock and Ford and Overton in the build up to the start of the league on August 15 when they visit league new boys Sway.

Manager Smith has told his players that the priority this season is promotion and that he wants his side to win the league.

He said: “We need to get out of this division straight away and into the Premier Division.

“People are looking at some of the players that we have signed and have us down as favourites but the players we have kept from last season like Dan Magee, Danny Lewis and Brad Craney will be just as important to us.

“We are still looking at a couple of more signings but the squad is looking strong and with the lease on the ground it looks like being an interesting season.”