1874 NORTHWICH have found a successor to Greg Hall after signing Josh Samberg from Burscough.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper’s arrival at St Luke’s Barton Stadium was announced on Friday morning after a seven-day notice of approach to the Linnets had expired.

He is expected to make his debut in a friendly against Middlewich Town this afternoon.

“Josh is somebody that we noticed when he played against us last season,” said co-manager Wayne Goodison.

“He was keen to come once he knew that we were interested and we’re happy to have got everything sorted in time for him to play this weekend.

“We didn’t expect it to be a position we’d be looking to fill at the start of the summer, but Greg’s situation obviously changed and we needed to act quickly.”

Callum Spencer, who served as understudy to Hall last season and has featured regularly for 1874 during pre-season, will start a new season with former club Knutsford in the Cheshire League’s Premier Division.

The 21-year-old, a title-winner with Reds’ A team the season before last, has registered for Northwich too.

Meanwhile Tony Aghayere, who played in a 3-0 defeat at Mossley on Tuesday, is another shot-stopper to have completed forms.

However the Guardian understands the 20-year-old has been approached by a Northern Premier League club and is receptive to the prospect of playing at a higher level.

He spent the end of the 2015-2016 campaign on loan at Colne from Burnley, and helped Reds secure promotion from the North West Counties League’s top-flight as champions.