MIDFIELD ace Tom Whelan has agreed a new deal at Salisbury FC - two weeks before the Whites start their pre-season campaign.

The club's most-played footballer with 54 appearances attracted interest from other clubs but decided to stay put.

"I'm delighted Tom has agreed to stay," Whites manager Steve Claridge said of the supporters' club young player of the year.

"He is a talented player more than capable of stepping up to Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West."

Whelan joined from Poole Town last season and played a key role in Whites' Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division title win as well as reaching the Wiltshire Senior Cup final and the semi-final of the FA Vase.

The holding midfielder, who netted 13 times, is among a squad that is nearing completion ahead of their warm-up opener against newly-promoted Bristol Rovers on Saturday, July 9 (1pm).

Rovers, who won promotion to League One, are one of three Football League clubs visiting Old Sarum next month.

Portsmouth play on Tuesday, July 19 and Yeovil Town on Tuesday, July 26.

The club are welcomed back for pre-season a week on Saturday.

"I've spoken to all of them and told them that I expect them to return with a good level of fitness already.

"Pre-season will not be about getting players fit," Claridge stated, "they should already have been working on that over the summer.

"What pre-season is about is playing matches and getting them match-sharp ready to hit the ground running."

In the meantime, Claridge hopes to unveil a few more signings.

"We're not far away," he continued. "I've still got one or two slots I want to fill. We need a bit more up front, for example.

"But we've got irons in the fire and I will be looking at quite a few triallists in the pre-season friendlies.

"The good thing is that so many of last season's squad that we wanted to keep are returning and we've added quality players like Justin Bennett, Lewis Benson and Josh Warren.

"Now is not the time to be hasty and just get players in. I want to see who's available still come pre-season because there may well be some bargains still out there.

"What I am not going to do is pay over the odds for anyone. There are a couple I have been interested in but they wanted too much and have gone elsewhere.

"We will get the right players at the right price, players who buy into what we are looking to achieve, and I know we are going to be competitive again."

FULL PRE-SEASON PROGRAMME

Sat 9th July 2016 - Bristol Rovers 1pm

Tues 12th July - Chichester City (Away) 7.45pm

Sat 16th July - Basingstoke Town (Away) 3pm

Tues 19th July - Portsmouth FC 7pm

Thurs 21st July - Downton (Away) 7.30pm

Sat 23rd July - Moneyfields (Away) 3pm

Tue 26th July - Yeovil Town, 7.30pm

Thu 28th July – Laverstock & Ford (A) 7.45pm (v Salisbury XI)

Sat 30th July - Weymouth 3pm