WITHAM Town manager Marc Benterman hasn't had to look too far to add some exciting attacking talent to his squad and that is exactly as the new boss at Spa Road wants it to be.

After taking the Witham helm two weeks ago, Benterman has continued building his first Town squad and has announced the signings of attacking quartet Alfie Cleal, Ollie Emsden, Scott Kemp and Toby Blanche.

Benterman, who has also got former Witham youth team player Pat Ahern as his captain this year, is delighted to have the new signings on board and is keen to have players who are local to Witham to foster strong links between members of his squad, the club itself and the community around the club.

He said: "Being local myself, I know the talent around here and you should always recruit from where you know.

"You bring a ready-made affiliation to the club and hopefully you bring their families on board as well and that can only be a boost for the club and crowds at games.

"I haven't had to sell the club to them because they know it already.

"The worst start to a conversation you can have with a potential player is them asking 'what can you offer me?' but these lads have not even mentioned that.

"They all want to be here."

Kemp is a player who Witham fans will know well already after a spell at Spa Road two years ago under previous boss Adam Flint.

That was ended by a cruciate ligament injury for the popular striker, but Benterman knows him well and jumped at the chance to bring him back.

He said: "I gave Scott his debut in senior football when he was 16 at Halstead (Town) and we couldn't hold on to him then because he is a natural talent and was destined for bigger things. "He went to Sudbury and then Witham where he was a real crowd pleaser.

"He lives quite close to the club and I'm personally delighted to have him on board."

Cleal, who is 19, is another exciting addition at the top end of the pitch and the former Braintree Town Reserves and Stanway Rovers man will fit in well with Benterman's plans.

The Witham boss added: "Alfie can play in behind the striker or as a striker and is a very intelligent player. "He's another local lad and ticks all the boxes for me.

"I came up against him when I was at Stansted last year and he's another one who I'm delighted to have on board.

"He is excited to play for his local club and that enthusiasm is what this club is all about.

"That's a key thing for me."

Emsden also ticks those boxes for Benterman, who said it was a 'no-brainer' to get the energetic midfielder into his squad.

"He is a box to box midfielder, who has a great left foot and another local lad, so I'm very pleased to have Ollie in," said Benterman.

"I have a great relationship with Ollie off the pitch and it was a no-brainer to get him in."

Emsden was a Saffron Walden last year and has also spent time at Greenock Morton in Scotland and at Cambridgeshire side Histon.

And completing the quartet is Blanche, a powerful striker who Benterman knows well from coming up against him last year when he was with Stanway Rovers in the Essex Senior League.

Benterman said: "Toby had offers from clubs higher up, but he is delighted to be a Witham Town player.

"He lives locally and is a player who caused me no end of problems at Stansted last year when he was with Stanway so I'm really excited to have him with us.

"The side struggled to score goals last year and I feel with these four players we have really added to the top end and I know they can all set this place alight."