YOUNGSTERS are in safe hands at Nantwich Town.

Expert goalkeeping tuition is available at the club's Jackson Avenue ground on Tuesdays, between 6.30 and 8pm, and it is proving very popular.

From handling crosses and communicating with defenders, to saving shots and winning oneon-one situations, qualified coach Paul Leek is on hand to give vital pointers.

Club manager Steve Davis said: 'Goalkeepers need to get specialised coaching and it is hard to come by. Our session is popular and the lads seem to get better every week.'

The cost for the sessions, for U18s-U8s, is just £2.50. For information, contact Steve Davis (07894 089189), Jon Brydon (07810 645100) or Martin Stubbs (01270 586162).

Meanwhile, Davis will attempt to sign at least five new players after a disappointing season in the North West Counties League Division One.

The player-boss is already on the lookout for new additions to bolster his squad for the 2005/06 season, in a bid to improve on the slump which saw the Dabbers finish in 16th spot.

The Jackson Avenue side won just 12 of their 42 league fixtures, losing 22. While Davis insists the club will always attempt to develop young players and give them first-team action, he will look elsewhere for reenforcements.

He said: 'I am very disappointed in the way we finished off the season. The last quarter in particularly was not good enough and, although we did have a lot of injuries then, the players just did not perform.

'We badly fell away from our early-season positions, where we hovered around eighth. If we could have built on that, things would have been different. I have to find the reasons we didn't so we can improve.

'I will definitely need to bring in five or six players at least. I need a goalkeeper to provide competition for Danny Reade, while we need strengthening across all the back.

'We also need left-sided play-ers and another striker to play up with Matt Blake. I will be watching the remaining games of the season but I have already identified a few targets.'

Eight defeats in the last nine games of the season cemented Nantwich's position just above the drop zone. But a handful of youngsters were given their debuts during the campaign and should be stronger next time around.

Blake himself was a revelation, with most of his 14 goals coming towards the end of the season, while his team-mates were struggling.

In the same period, Davis was missed as he suffered a knee injury. He may need a cartilage operation in the summer but insists he will start next season, when he will be 40.

The manager said pre-season is a busy time: 'The players will be able to put their feet up and have a rest, but I won't be able to stop.

'The coaching at the club and at local schools will continue almost right through until next season, and I shall be attending several courses to get new qualifications as well.'