Taylor brings in the triallists (From Bucks Free Press)

Taylor brings in the triallists

11:14am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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WANDERERS boss Peter Taylor yesterday called in the triallists as he bids to make up for the four transfer targets that got away over the summer.

The Blues boss had hoped to get all six of his intended signings done and dusted by July 1 – but the club’s boardroom battle delayed that – and he has now had to put Plan B into action.

He wasn’t given his budget until June 22 and that has cost him four of his top targets.

Exeter midfielder Matt Gill chose Norwich instead of Adams Park because Taylor wasn’t in any position to talk terms with him, while Dagenham duo Sam Saunders and Ben Strevens chose Brentford while Wycombe dithered.

A fourth unnamed target also slipped through the net as Steve Hayes’ takeover took centre stage at the park.

Now Taylor is looking to put his team-strengthening plans back on track by unearthing some gems from the in-take of triallists he took in yesterday.

He is keeping silent on the identity of any of the ‘half a dozen’ hopefuls who joined up with his squad yesterday morning.

And he has made this week’s training sessions behind-closed-doors affairs to make sure no names leak out and into the hands of other clubs.

But he did reveal that ‘nearly all of them’ have played in the Football League and have good experience.

The intake includes a centre half, two centre forwards and two midfielders and some could be seen in Saturday’s first pre-season friendly of the season away at AFC Wimbledon.

He said: “If everything had gone to plan I would already have signed my quota by now.”

But he admits he has been pleasantly suprised by the calibre of some of the triallists who contacted him after being released by their clubs last year.

The hopefuls joined up with last year’s promotion-winning squad and the club’s two summer signings, Leicester academy full back Joe Cobb and Wigan midfielder Lewis Montrose.

And Taylor is delighted with the early season fitness of his troops, who he says are already looking in a much better physical shape than this time last year after following the club’s close-season fitness plan,