COVENTRY Sphinx are stepping up their pre-season preparations after bringing in five new signings and announcing a host of changes to the playing and coaching staff.
Former Sphinx duo Adam Bilic and George Whitelaw have returned to the club for the 2019/20 season, whilst Lawrence Rawlings, Ryan Palmer and Elliot Palmer have also been brought in by manager Lee Knibbs.
Bilic, competent in central midfield or defence, arrives after two seasons with Atherstone Town where he made over 60 appearances and played for the club in his early career.
Whitelaw briefly played for Sphinx in the 2017/18 campaign, and joins after over 150 appearances for Coventry Copsewood at right back and in central defence – scoring ten goals during that time.
Also arriving from Copsewood is Rawlings – a pacy winger who has chipped in with over 50 goals in 140 appearances during his time in MFL Division One.
Young prospect R Palmer has decided to swap Coventry Alvis in Division Two for the Sphinx, after firing 15 goals in 26 appearances last term, and can draw upon Premier Division experience with Coventry United.
E Palmer is expected to add depth and versatility to the defensive ranks and hopes to regain his previous level whilst at Sphinx Drive, having recovered from a long-term injury that he sustained whilst playing for his most recent club, Rugby Town, in October 2016.
Also making the step up are five players from the club’s youth system, with Max Howard, Dan Kelly, Callum Mack, Callum Maspers and Alex Pearson all hoping to get involved in reserve and first-team football next term.
Staying on at the club are midfielder Josh O’Grady, goalkeeper Tom Cross and forward Charlie Faulkner, who have all signed terms for the 2019/20 season.
Assistant coach Dave Dainty and specialist goalkeeping coach Lee McClay will bolster the club’s backroom staff after joining from GNP Sports – adding to the existing strength of the set-up at Sphinx.
Knibbs, meanwhile, has made the move to appoint Callum Woodward as captain, Liam Kay as club captain, and Louis Guest and Michael Quirke as vice-captains.
Speaking on the appointments, the Sphinx boss said: “Callum will be a leader and a role model for every player at the club, from the under-7s through to the first team.
“He will show them what it takes to be a winner – he mirrors everything I believe in and delivers everything I want to see from a Sphinx person and player.
“Liam has the class and values that make him a great demonstration of how to lead by example.
“He is also a Sphinx man and all of these factors make him an outstanding choice for the club captain role.”
