Adams launches raid on former club as Stratford trio sign for Rugby

DEFENSIVE duo Lee Thomas and Loyiso Recci have left Stratford Town and agreed to join Carl Adams at Rugby Town.

The double swoop follows the exit of Justin Marsden, who returns to Butlin Road for a third stint after being announced as Adams' assistant on Thursday.

It will be the 34-year-old's first foray into management, while he is also expected to continue in a playing capacity for the United Counties League Premier Division side.

Whether this signals the end of the raid on his former club remains to be seen, with Adams keen to get "four or five" players signed up as soon as possible.

"I'm looking to get agreements to join from four or five quality players as soon as I can," Adams told the club's official website last week.

"Hopefully from there it will be a domino effect with others following them when they see what we are trying to put together and achieve here.

"I'm fairly confident that I can get certain players that I've had in the past to follow me over to here, but I also know that everything won't be completed overnight.

"In some cases, we may have to wait until after the first few weeks of the season to get the final pieces of the jigsaw together."