BRIDGWATER and Albion chairman Steve Smith believes that the club’s policy of not paying their players will help them to develop their own home-grown talent, writes Will Carpenter.

After a torrid few seasons that has seen the club fall from National Two to South West One West, Smith hopes that the club can improve on last season’s mid-table finish, while developing its younger players in the process.

He said: “The club doesn’t pay players anymore and our aim is to develop as much of our own talent as is possible.

“We’ve got a good crop of young players and they have been training with the seniors and will be allocated to their appropriate level, whatever that may be.

“The money in the higher leagues is making it more difficult to compete up there – some of the club’s budgets are huge.

“I’m not knocking it because we have done it in the past, but we can’t afford to go down that route now.

“We would like to be in National Three, but it’s important that we get the club back to being a club and not a business.

“We’ve learnt from what’s happened here and as I’ve said, we want to develop as much home-grown talent as we can.

“Our coach Kevin Innals has said he wants to challenge for the top four and I think that is achievable.”

# BRIDGWATER held their annual meeting as the club look forward to new season.

The club reported a net profit of £6,581 from last season – figures that give the club good hope for the future following some lower figures in previous years.

Mike Berry was re-elected as President, Joanna Smith as Honorary Secretary and Carl Turner as Honorary Treasurer.

Clive Pasisey, Damian Marsh and Paul Brookes had resigned from the committee, and the other members – Steve Smith, Gary Allen, Debbie Villis, Gavin Roberts, Kevin Palfrey, David Pomeroy and Chris Spencer were all re-elected.

Ben Branson, the new Fixture Secretary, and John Innalls were elected as new committee members.

n IN the first round of the Somerset Cup, Bridgwater have been drawn away to Taunton Titans.

But before this, Bridgwater will play pre-season fixtures against Frampton Cottrell at home on August 17, Exmouth at home on August 22 and Wells at home on August 29.

The league season starts with a visit to Bridgwater of league newcomers Bideford on Saturday, September 7.

n NORTH Petherton have recruited three players as they look to build upon last season’s third place finish.

They are utility back Lewis Marsden, second-row forward James Taylor and centre Josh Cooper.

Pethy take on Taunton in their first pre-season friendly.