TRIPLE player-of-the-year winner Liam Lockett “is up at the top” of Worcester City’s wish list for next season – alongside some fresh faces.

Talks are about to get underway with last season’s squad as City prepare for a third season in the Midland Football League Premier Division on the back of a campaign that drifted into mid-table mediocrity.

Manager John Snape is determined to ensure no repeat of the 11th-placed finish by adding more steel to the glimpses of promise.

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One of the most heartening sights of the 2018-19 was the emergence of midfielder Lockett who featured 44 times in all competitions during his first full season in men’s football which yielded the manager’s, players’ and young player of the season gongs.

And Snape, who revealed his desire to extend Lockett’s one-year deal back in March, is keen to retain the vaunted product of the club’s youth system.

“Once all of the finals are done and dusted this week we will be looking to reengage the current squad and talk to potential targets. Liam Lockett is up at the top of the list with others,” said Snape.

“We will definitely be adding to the squad and that may end up being for a number of reasons.

“People may feel the need to move but we know we have to be better than last season, particularly when it comes to game management.

“We have a bundle of talent and flair at times but our management of matches has not been good enough and I will be looking for the type of players who can improve that.

“Once I speak to players face to face then decisions can be made on whether people will be invited back for pre-season or not.”

One area Snape is keen to address is the loss of key personnel during the free-for-all of pre-season.

Midfielders Nathan Hayward and Robbie Bunn and goalkeeper Lewis Gwilliams were among those to agree terms with City last summer but moved on before a ball was kicked.

“We got caught out with players moving just before the start which never helps,” added Snape.

“One of our key objectives this season is to get off to a good start so having as much stability as we can will only help that.”

Snape was back at the Victoria Ground on Monday to watch landlords Bromsgrove Sporting beat Corby Town 4-3 after extra-time in an epic Southern League Division One Central play-off final.

“Congratulations to Bromsgrove, three promotions on the bounce is an achievement whatever the level and I wish them all the best in the next division,” he added.

“It was a cracking final and quite a way to go up, everyone there deserves a lot of credit.”