TWO big name League stars could be on their way to Wetherby Road by the start of the new season if Harrogate Town boss John Reed successfully secures their signatures.

But he has vowed to remain tight-lipped over their identities until they are well over the threshold to avoid interest from other clubs.

Reed's successful summer hunting has already netted the services of ex-Halifax striker Andy Farrell. Also, former Scarborough and Leeds United academy left winger Andy Wright has re-signed for the club he made a handful of appearances for in the 2001 championship-winning season, while Craig Morley has made his loan spell from Scunthorpe United at the end of last season a permanent move.

The new-look team will be touted in a number of forthcoming pre-season matches starting at home tomorrow against Huddersfield Town. Scunthorpe United will visit Wetherby Road next Tuesday.

Nationwide Conference North club Town will also lock horns with neighbours Harrogate Railway in the John Smiths' Trophy on Saturday, August 7, at Wetherby Road.

Railway, who have Robbie Whellans back in their ranks, travel to Yorkshire Amateur tomorrow buoyed by their convincing 3-1 home win over Frickley last Saturday. They will also entertain Scunthorpe at Station View on Friday, July 30.

Pickering Town's star midfielder looks likely to leave the club in search of a higher division team.

Gavin Dickinson has been training with other clubs and has been linked to UniBond side Guiseley.

Additions to the Pikes squad are yet to be confirmed but Tom Reid has already pledged himself to their Northern Counties East League premier division promotion cause after leaving Goole, where his father Jimmy Reid stepped down as joint-manager at the end of last season.

Pikes boss Steve Brown said: "It's all going fine at the moment. We've got two or three guys training with us but everything's still up in the air and we will know a bit more in a couple of weeks."

Pickering are in action tonight when they host Peterlee Newtown at Thornton-le-Dale (7.15pm).

Pikes' other scheduled games include a trip to Bridlington Town on July 31 and Tadcaster Albion away on August 7. Fingers are also crossed for a match with a York City XI on August 10, but this has yet to be confirmed.

A new-look Goole AFC will be unveiled tomorrow when UniBond team Frickley Athletic drop in for a friendly at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.

Last season's joint-manager Paul Marshall, who is currently getting used to having sole responsibility after cohort Jimmy Reid stood down at the end of the season, revealed that a number of new faces will run out in a Goole shirt for the first time during the match.

He said: "We've been in training for about three weeks and we've got a couple of new faces on board who will be on show on Saturday.

"Obviously we were disappointed not to go up in the end but we're looking forward. We've got some big games lined up in pre-season that will test us so we will see how far away we are from being a UniBond club ourselves."

Goole's other friendlies include Guiseley on July 31, Ossett Albion, August 3, Worksop Town on August 10 and North Ferriby United on August 14.

The club is holding an open day on Sunday (noon start) so families can have a look around the VPG, free coaching is on offer for under-tens and there will also be a six-a-side tournament taking place. New sponsor EITI Ltd will also be there to ink the deal and meet the fans.

Updated: 11:03 Friday, July 23, 2004