Stockton are keen to attract the cream of local talent

Davidson has stepped up from the reserves to take charge of the first team at Stockton alongside former Stoke City professional Owen Lovelock.

And, having picked up the reins from Rugby-based Tommy Young, Davidson is keen to give local players the opportunity to play for the Coventry Alliance Premier Division side.

“We want to build Stockton up as a community club again,” said Davidson.

“Before we had a Leamington-based reserve team and a Rugby-based first team and we lost a lot of players to Racing Club, Southam, Kenilworth and Whitnash.”

Work is already being carried out on the ground, while a new strip and reserve team manager in the shape of former Kenilworth Town assistant boss Jason Bradshaw add to the sense of a fresh start at the club.

A crowded Saturday scene makes attracting new players difficult, but Davidson believes the decline in standards of the Midland Combination makes Coventry Alliance football an ever more appealing option.

“Is there any difference in the standard of the Coventry Alliance and the Midland Combination? I don’t think so.

“We can offer more than a Racing Club Warwick and a Kenilworth, plus there’s less travelling involved so you can be back at the club for half five.”

Stockton’s pre-season training kicked off yesterday evening (Thursday).