Breaking news: One joins and five stay at United

One new player is set to join Hastings United and five more are staying at the football club.
Simon Johnson has agreed to stay at Hastings United for next season. Picture courtesy Scott WhiteSimon Johnson has agreed to stay at Hastings United for next season. Picture courtesy Scott White
Simon Johnson has agreed to stay at Hastings United for next season. Picture courtesy Scott White

Former Maidstone United striker Frannie Collin is on his way to The Pilot Field, while Sam Cole, Sam Cruttwell, Richard Davies, Simon Johnson and Jerome Smith are remaining on board for the 2016/17 campaign.

As reported by www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk, experienced striker Collin is set to link up with his former Maidstone and Leatherhead team-mates Steve Watt and Matt Bodkin at United having agreed terms with boss Darren Hare.

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The 29-year-old started his senior career at Gillingham in 2005, but after his release from the Priestfield Stadium, he started to build an outstanding goalscoring reputation in a three-year stint with Dover Athletic, helping them to the Ryman League title in 2009.

Collin then enjoyed three successful seasons at Tonbridge Angels, who he helped fire into Conference South via the Ryman League play-offs in 2011, before joining Maidstone ahead of the 2013/14 campaign.

Two years later he was celebrating another Ryman League title success, but after spending a month on loan at Leatherhead in January 2016, Collin signed permanently for the Tanners for the remainder of last season.

Of the players staying at the club, midfielder Johnson, another ex-Maidstone man scored twice in 35 appearances for United last term, while left winger or full-back Cole netted 18 goals and provided nine assists last term, leaving him second in both charts for the club.

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Nineteen-year-old Cruttwell has already made more than 100 first team appearances for the club and really established himself in central midfield last season, Davies was a regular at right-back after joining from Chatham Town in March, and centre-back Smith made 14 appearances and scored two goals during his first season with the club.

Hare has arranged to chat with several other members of last year’s squad and further potential new signings, over the coming weekend, and a number of triallists will be invited to pre-season training.

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