He completed deals yesterday with centre-half Sagi Burton and left-back Gareth Jelleyman to take this summer's arrivals at Nene Park into double-figures.

They join former Lincoln City goalkeeper Alan Marriott and player-coach Chris Hope plus Curtis Osano, Phil Gulliver, Scott Mitchell and Michael Corcoran to provide Hill with plenty of options in his new-look backline.

The Diamonds boss said: "I'm very pleased to have brought in two more experienced players.

"Jelleyman has played more than 200 league games at Peterborough United and Mansfield Town. He gives us balance down the left-hand side.

"We've had a look at him over the last couple of weeks in training and three matches.

"I was already feeling very positive about what I'd seen. But he totally convinced me with how well he played against Bristol City on Friday night.

"They had a full first-team squad, including nine from the Championship play-off final, and Jelleyman had a big test up against Scott Murray on the right wing.

"It was an opportunity to see players and assess their performances.

"Burton coped well with Dele Adebola and Lee Trundle who are strong centre-forwards. He will give us more physical presence by making us
competitive and aggressive.

"He will add experience and organisational skills. When you look at sides such as Aldershot, Torquay and Cambridge who were towards the top of our division last season, they had dominant figures at the back rather than players with lots of pace.

"Marriott, Jelleyman, Burton and Chris Hope have played hundreds of games in the Football League. So they know what they are doing.

"I will look at Curtis Osano as another option dropping into centre-half because Mitchell and Corcoran can also play at right-back.

"There is more depth and quality. In most positions we are covered by a lot of players.

"But there is always the chance of further surprises in the transfer market. Sometimes things can happen which you wouldn't expect.

"If a player becomes available who is better than what we have already got then we will fight to get him."