BILLERICAY Town manager Craig Edwards has backed his new summer signings to make an instant impact next season.

The Town boss added Bowers & Pitsea striker Lewis Manor and Tilbury goalkeeper Jack Giddens over the weekend, his fifth and sixth summer signings.

Manor’s 44 goals in the Essex Senior League mean he is seen as an ideal replacement for Ricky Sappleton who has joined Kingstonian and Affy Obafemi who Edwards has released.

Meanwhile, ex-Billericay man Giddens, 23, kept seven clean sheets in eight matches for the Dockers in an impressive stint last term, and replaces the departed Joe Wright.

And Edwards says, following the early additions of Frankie Curley, Joe Ellul, Chris Bourne and Loui Hazelwood, his side are in excellent shape six weeks ahead of the new campaign.

“These are two really good additions for us,” said the Town chief. “I was looking for a goalkeeper and Jack’s name kept cropping up. Every manager I spoke to recommended him and Joe Ellul text me after we got him and said he was the best player he had played with or against.

“He has excellent distribution and is a vocal presence so I am very pleased to get him.

“Lewis came onto my radar after Christmas and people kept talking to me about him,” he continued, regarding the 6ft 4in 23-year-old. “ You don’t score 44 goals in a season and not have something about you. I spoke to Lewis and I was really impressed with his enthusiasm and it is clear he is chomping at the bit to get started.

“He reminds me of Courtney White, who also joined from the Essex Senior League.”

Edwards also had praise for the rest of his signings and, despite the departures of some big names, he is convinced his team is well equipped for an assault on the Ryman Premier League next season.

“I have had players in the past you have had to drag performances out of but I genuinely feel this team and the players I have signed are bang on. They are determined to do well and could be the final pieces of the jigsaw.”

Ryan Melaugh, Josh Ekim and Ben Jacobs have all been let go by the club.