Braintree Town manager Alan Devonshire won’t be rushing in his search for a replacement for Dean Wells.

The defender moved to League Two side Stevenage two weeks ago and Iron boss Devonshire said he wanted to bolster his back line with a new signing.

But while he wants to get a deal sorted ahead of the start of the Conference Premier season on August 9, he insists he doesn’t need to be hasty and will have a look at a few trial players in the opening pre-season games at Stanway Rovers and Long Melford tomorrow.

Braintree head to Thurlow Nunn League premier division side Rovers in the morning (kick-off 11.30am) before a trip to Stoneylands to face Thurlow Nunn League division one side Melford (kick-off 3pm).

Devonshire said he expects to have separate teams for both games with a mix of triallists and returning squad members in each.

He said: “We’ve got most of the lads come back and the two new strikers (Dan Walker and Charlie Strutton) so we’re looking OK.

“I still want a defender to replace Deano (Wells) and I just want to add in a few more to push the lads in the squad.

“I’ve got some in on trial and I’ll get to have a look at them on Saturday in a match situation when we have our two opening friendly games.

“There are about six or seven lads for me to have a look at and they’ll be in either of the two games at Stanway and Long Melford.

“Then I’ll probably put most of them in again when we face Norwich on Tuesday and start to make my mind up on them after that.

“There are a couple I’ll be looking at on Saturday, but I’ve got four to five weeks still before the season starts.

“I’m not too fussed about it to be honest, but I am looking constantly.”