WELLING boss Andy Ford will make his final decision on which trialists will represent the club this season after Saturday’s friendly with Gillingham.

The Wings have already ended their interest in several so far and although there are still eight battling for a deal, the manager conceded the likelihood was only three would get the nod.

He said: “I’ve already let quite a few of the trialists go but there still about eight left who we are going to have a really good look at.

“I’m trying to build a squad of around 16 or 17 for the season and I’m hoping to sign up two or three trialists after the Gillingham game on Saturday.

“If you have seen the pre-season games we’ve played already, you will know we have most areas of the team covered.”

Ford added: “I’m going to have to take some decisions in the next few days because Andy Sambrook is still a bit short at centre half and we also need cover for Spencer Knight at left back.

“We may also need a bit of strengthening in midfield too but like everything at the moment, it is a bit more difficult than people might realise because of the finances.

“The Gillingham game will be another chance for everyone to get some more minutes under their belts before I make those decisions.”

Welling continued their preparations for the new campaign last night after coming from behind to win 2-1 at VCD Athletic courtesy of strikes from Loui Fazakerley and Anthony Finn.

Ford said: “It was a good work out because I gave everybody 45 minutes and some of them got longer than that.

“The surface was good and VCD gave us a game.

“We are some way short of full match fitness at the moment but that is only to be expected and the same probably applies to every other team too.

“Results are not really important, it is about getting the match practice in and being organised.”

The game also gave Wings fans the first opportunity to see summer signing Lee Clarke in action for the first time and the boss was pleased with the striker’s contribution.

“Lee did well but I only used him for 45 minutes because he had a knee operation in the summer and I don’t want to rush him back too soon,” he said.

“It is a case of gradually getting him back to match fitness.

“He looked difficult to play against last night despite not being fit and that is a good sign.”