Holding midfielder Declan Dunn and central defender Owen Betts, both 19-years old, reunite again with Steve Chettle, who worked with the pair at Notts, following Alex Howes into the club on two-year deals. Both players represented Notts County’s first team & Under 23s at various stages last season with first team appearances in the FA Trophy.

Dunn will be familiar to Basford fans, having spent a long period of the 2019-20 campaign on loan in the Northern Premier League at Grantham Town, and was on the club’s radar very early in victories & draws against Basford last season.

Both players were invited by Chettle to attend preseason training after release from first year pro contracts at Notts County at the end of July, and having excelled, both have earned the right to sign long term deals at the club.

Manager Chettle, is happy to add the pair to his side after signing Howes, another former Notts player just last week. He said: "Alex, Declan and Owen were all part of the same youth team and U23 group at Notts County that I worked with when I was coaching there.

“Dec and Owen were members of the U23's group that progressed to the Final of the League Cup and lost to the then Premier League group from AFC Bournemouth.

“Declan is a midfield player that played the first part of last season in the Notts County first team squad in the National League before gaining valuable experience with Grantham Town in the NPL. Bettsy made one senior appearance last season for Notts County's first team and then went out on loan to play regularly. He is a ball playing centre back and has fitted straight into the first team squad at Basford along with Dunny.

“These two along with the other signings we have made at the club will hopefully be with us for many years to come and flourish during their time with us."

With preseason progressing very well for the first team group as well as the Academy, Chettle and his coaching staff are understandably delighted with how the squad is being developed and future proofed with an excellent balance of youth, experience and exceptional potential.

The club will not rule out further additions in the last few weeks of preseason as we build towards September 19th, the opening day of the 2020-21 season.