Lee Sinnott made vastly-experienced former Rochdale midfielder Peter Cavanagh his fifth summer signing on Tuesday night and confidently

declared: "This is now the strongest squad I"ve had at Altrincham."

After completing the deal at tea-time and giving Cavanagh his debut against Accrington Stanley a couple of hours later, Sinnott backed his latest acquisition to slot seamlessly into the base of Alty"s midfield.

"We are delighted with the signing, because he fits the bill of what we have been looking for," said the Alty boss, who has also recruited keeper Dave Parton, midfielder Sean Williams, winger Ryan Crowther and striker Steven Gillespie. "We needed another sitting midfielder, and that is exactly where Cav excels.

"He came through the door at half-five and barely had time for introductions to his new team-mates before getting his kit on and stepping on to the pitch, but you could tell what he"s about. He knows that role and performs it superbly.

"He has bags of experience, and he will talk the game as well, which is something I always think is paramount, absolutely vital. He is very vocal and will talk to people around him and organise them. He will make sure his experience is passed on.

"To get someone with his experience and knowhow was always going to be invaluable, and we are now ready to go. These are the 19 senior players we will take into the season, and I am pleased with the way the squad has taken shape.

"You can see the balance is there, and the players are going to have to take their A game on to the pitch every time, because there is so much quality in all areas. There are decisions to be made about the starting X1, but that is a nice conundrum to have. The players who face against Aldershot have to do enough to make sure they stay in, because there will be people pushing in every position.

"I"d say we"ve got more strength in depth now than at any time in the last three years, and that can only be good for the club."

Alty round off their pre-season programme against Shrewsbury at the J. Davidson Stadium tomorrow (Friday) at 7.45pm.