GRANT Joshua insists he and his coaching staff are ‘raising the standards’ at the club after making a raft of new signings.
The club retained just four players from the side which suffered relegation from the Northern Premier League Midlands last term.
Only Liam Francis, Harrison Nee, Ryan Sahota and Dan Summerfield agreed to remain at Butlin Road next season.
The club remain locked in negotiations with last season’s top scorer Trey Charles regarding a new deal.
Valley failed to agree terms with veteran midfielder Chris Clements who has since left the club.
A total of six players also departed Rugby following the expiry of their contracts.
Hilton Arthur, Caine Elliott, Paul Hathaway, Ethan O’Toole, Josh Thomas and MJ Semahimbo are all looking for new clubs.
Rugby offered fresh terms to Elliott and Thomas only for both players to leave the club in search of a move higher up the pyramid.
And nine non-contract players have also left Butlin Road with Tyreace Brown, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Kartell Dawkins, Micah Edwards, Ayo Lekuti, Jiah Medrano, Daniele Reka, Austin Sparkes and Lucas Stanley all departing.
Loan players Finn Flanagan, Will Ronald and Bodi Thistleton have returned to their parent clubs.
However, Joshua has acted swiftly to bolster his squad in time for the start of pre-season.
Joshua made 27-year-old midfielder Harry Cunningham his first signing as Valley boss.
Cunningham has previously played for Shifnal Town, Sporting Khalsa and Chasetown.
Full-back Bleu McNeil has joined Valley following a spell with AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
The 29-year-old previously signed for the club back in 2020 but never played a game due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Young centre-back Ethan Hanson has also made the switch to Butlin Road.
The 23-year-old joins from Stourport Swifts where he won the club’s player of the season award last term following a brief spell with Alvechurch.
Joshua has also swooped to sign 20-year-old midfielder Paul Ibhadon who he worked with previously at Lye Town.
And Joshua has again linked up with 20-year-old right back Nathan Kabeya.
Kabeya played under Joshua at both Lye and Coleshill Town.
The full-back was previously part of Lincoln City’s academy.
Versatile midfielder Sam Tye has also agreed to join the club.
The 28-year-old scored 11 goals in 47 appearances for Joshua’s Coleshill side last season.
And 22-year-old forward Sam Ellis has joined Rugby following spells with Coventry Copsewood, Coventry Sphinx and Sutton Coldfield Town.
Another of Joshua’s former players, 25-year-old defensive midfielder Oliver West, has joined the club following a stint with Lye.
And 26-year-old winger Dilano Reid arrives from Sporting Khalsa.
Joshua said: “The recruitment drive shows no sign of letting up anytime soon and the level of player coming into the club is something that doesn’t surprise me.
“The club itself attracts a certain level of player and if you add a proven group of staff to that, it’s something that we won’t get wrong.
“We’re still three or four weeks away from pre-season so there’s no panic and we won’t be rushed into deals.
“Whoever we bring in will be a top fit for the club, not only on the pitch but off it – we’re raising the standards of what it means to play for this football club.”
