BRAINTREE Town's new manager Angelo Harrop has made two new signings for the club - both strikers, writes DAVID WARD.

THe Iron have signed 20 year-old Alfie Matthews, who spent 11 years at Arsenal's Academy before joining Crystal Palace and spent the last few weeks of last season's campaign at National League South side Welling United.

He had played for both Arsenal under-18 side and also for Palace's under-23 team.

The other young striker joining the Iron is 23 year-old Ben Fowkes who spent last season, playing for Needham Market.

Manager Harrop is hoping the pair will link up well and solve one of the Iron's long-term problems of not having strikers who can score goals regularly.

The Iron have also made a third signing this week - a midfielder - and his name will be released shortly while the manager continues to talk to some of last season's squad as well as several potential new players.

The other major signing at the Dunmow Group Stadium this week is off the pitch with the vastly experienced non-league coach Steve Pitt has officially become Harrop's number two.

Pitt has previously had various coaching and managerial type roles at Chelmsford City, Brightlingsea Regent, Bishop's Stortford and Heybridge Swifts.

The Iron players start their pre-season training this Saturday in the build up to their first pre-season friendly away to Newmarket Town on Saturday, July 9.