Pools, who have been patient, calculated and focused in their recruitment so far this summer, have welcomed five new faces to Victoria Park, including three central-midfielders, wideman Luke Charman and League Two promotion-winner Adam Campbell.
However, having released nine players in April, Pools have just 20 senior players on their books, including the injured Kieran Wallace as well as three – admittedly talented – teenagers.
Sarll has prioritised quality over quantity and all five of his new additions look like they’re more than capable of impressing at National League level.
The new boss does still lack depth in a number of areas, with embattled goalkeeper Joel Dixon, who kept just one clean sheet in 26 games during a torrid first season at Victoria Park, Sarll’s only option in-between the sticks
The only true striker on the roster is Mani Dieseruvwe, who scored 25 goals the previous season. Luke Charman, who struggled with a back ailment in preseason, and Joe Grey, who had an excellent campaign, could both use some help on the wings.
Tom Parkes and Luke Waterfall, two seasoned players, will likely maintain their strong defensive tandem, although it seems unrealistic to expect the 65-year-old pair to play every game of the season without missing any.
April transfer target Manny Onariase is still with the team and offers some cover, with Greg Sloggett, Jack Hunter, and Kieran Burton among those who can step in at the back if necessary.
Billy Sass-Davies, who has worked with Sarll at Woking and Yeovil, is currently undergoing a trial with the team, but the manager has cautioned that he needs to improve if he wants to be signed to a contract.
Supporters will be hopeful that Sarll can add some depth to his lineup in the less than three weeks until the new season kicks off, especially as the National League is now allowed seven substitutes on the bench, five of whom can be deployed.
Sarll acknowledges that he is still eager to add players to a few places, but he is unlikely to panic at any point—he frequently notes that the National League transfer window is practically endless.
“There’s no end to a manager’s wishlist – if we were allowed to, we’d get away with financial murder.
“It’s all about the right ones. We’ve signed three central-midfielders this summer but if there’s a fourth one that comes up that improves on those three then we sign him.
“We’d love another centre-forward, for example, in the shape and design of Mani Dieseruvwe.
“The big thing with depth is that it’s not always the case of just being able to replace someone with someone else, it’s how the dynamic of the team changes when you take something out and put something in.
In a perfect world, we would add a center forward. I’d like to see another wide player that is aggressive and quick, like Charman and Grey. Billy is obviously a center half right now, but we could definitely need another goalie.
“I don’t like signing guys I’m not in love with, but it would be nice if we could add something along those lines.
“Because these athletes have such a big impact on my life and our town, I want to feel incredibly safe and confident in them.
“It’s my fault, it’s no one else’s fault that we haven’t signed more, but I want to make sure they’re good ones.”
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