CHIPPENHAM Town boss Mark Collier has announced the signing of 18-year-old right back Macauley Dodson following his release from Forest Green Rovers.

Manager Collier played Dodson for 20 minutes in the 4-1 friendly win over Didcot on Tuesday night and believes his new man will add real quality to his side.

He said: “He was probably a little bit unlucky to get released by Forest Green Rovers but technically he’s very good and he’s quick.

“He has good fitness levels, as you would expect from an 18 year-old, but he’s a good size and a good talker for his age which will do him good in the rigours of the league.

“He’s got a good attitude, he’s one for the future but we think he will play a big part in our plans, he’s a great addition.”

The young defender impressed both the manager Collier and senior players in training which was enough for him to sign on the dotted line.

“One thing you get with young players in confidence, he impressed me and the senior players when he came in for pre-season training,'' added Collier.

“We don’t just sign players because they’re young, we bring them in if we think we can develop them.

“He is fully aware that he won’t be getting 40 games this season but he knows he will get an opportunity.”

Collier’s side were also due to travel away to Calne on Saturday for their third pre-season friendly, but that has now been cancelled because the home side where unable to field a team.

Collier said: “We will now train on Saturday morning for about an hour and a half instead and then the boys can have the weekend off before we start to get ready for Tuesday.

“Because it is so late in the day and all the other teams are booked up there isn’t a lot we can really do, a club like Calne should be able to field a team of 11, but if they can’t then I feel sorry for them.

"It’s just a small step back but nothing we can’t overcome.”

Collier also revealed that defender Leigh Henry had left the club by mutual consent. 

Henry, who signed for the Bluebirds in March of this year had his contract cancelled because he has ‘lost his love for football’. 

Manager Collier said: ”We had a chat about it and we agreed to cancel his contract, he’s lost his love for football at the moment so he’s decided to take a break from it. 

“He didn’t think he was at where he needed to be and he’s going to concentrate on other things, which I am okay with because I have known Leigh for a long time.”

Collier was pleased with his side's second-half performance against Didcot, adding: “It was a difficult game with the heat. In the second half our front five scored four great goals and looked powerful. 

"All of the squad have had 90 minutes now so we will be looking to push on from here, but everyone is fit and healthy, long may that continue.” 

Supporters also got a chance to see new signing Miles John who got some minutes under his belt against Didcot. 

Collier said: ”He’s fine, he played in a couple of positions. We need to button down where we think we are going to play him. 

"We are fully aware that competition for places is key, sometimes we need options from the bench but he’s looked impressive in training.”