Lee Knibbs has been a busy man on the recruitment front this week and we can confirm that he has secured the services of strikers Matt Gardner and Luke Barlone.
Matt Gardner brings with him bags of experience and can list Coalville Town and Bedworth Utd amongst his former clubs. Last season he was with Coleshill Town and played a big part in their promotion winning campaign. His season’s total of 28 goals helped Coleshill to runners up spot in the Midland Football League Premier Division and therefore promotion.
Luke Barlone is another experienced forward who has performed for a number of clubs at a higher level during his career. One of those clubs is Barwell and he will have some familiar faces to welcome him into the Coventry Sphinx squad. Coventry Sphinx players such as Scott Lower, Liam Kay and Callum Woodward have all played at Barwell with Luke Barlone so he should settle into the squad smoothly.
These two proven goal scorers arrive just days after the signing of defender Liam Kay who joined the club from Barwell. Liam is a product of the Coventry Sphinx junior system and has had many years of football at a higher level with Coalville, Grantham Town and Barwell. Jake Allingan has also recently re-joined the squad to add high quality cover in the goalkeeping department.
Gardner and Barlone made their Sphinx debuts in Saturday’s 4-0 victory at Ilkeston Town and Manager Lee Knibbs told us, “Saturday’s result showed that we now have a squad that will challenge until the end of the season. Luke (Barlone) and Matt (Gardner) are both strikers who are proven at a higher level and they will bring a winning mentality with them. They know how to win big games and they will undoubtedly strengthen an already strong squad”.
Coventry Sphinx are at home against Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday 22nd December so make sure you join us at Sphinx Drive to welcome the players into the club.
By Martin Sutton