NEIL Young has made his first signing as Altrincham manager and opened talks with four players he wants to keep from last season’s squad.

After releasing nine members of the squad that went down, Alty’s new boss wasted no time launching his rebuilding programme, as he announced the capture of midfielder Charlie Joyce from Southport.

When Southport visited The J.Davidson Stadium just over a month ago, Joyce was described, in the visitors' pen pics section of the Robins Review match programme, as being an 'ultra-fit, committed midfielder' who 'forged his way into the manager's thinking in 2014-15', and Young clearly believes those qualities can help him make a favourable impression in the National League North next season.

"Charlie fits the profile of the type of player we are looking to add to the squad to bolster it for the new campaign," he said. "He's an energetic, hard-working midfield player with over 60 games under his belt in the Conference at only 22 years of age."

Liverpool-born Joyce joined Southport from Morecambe nearly four years ago, after a successful trial at Haig Avenue, and is expected to be followed by more new arrivals in the coming weeks, as a revamped Alty squad begins to take shape.

After carefully assessing the squad he inherited, former Chester boss Young made it clear there was no room for sentiment by including player-of-the-year Tim Deasy and long-serving crowd favourite Nicky Clee , plagued by injury last season, among the departures.

He is, however, hoping to reach agreement over new terms with Scott Leather, James Lawrie, Damian Reeves and Michael Rankine.

"Decisions had to be made, as always happens when a new manager comes in, but I can assure you they were not easy," he said.

"I think the players appreciated being contacted personally, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

"It was the least they deserved after all they’ve done for this club.

"They have given us fantastic service over the past few years, and I want to place on record the club’s thanks for all their efforts."