Reaction from Spalding United manager Jimmy Dean after the signings of Liam Moore, Dion Sembie-Ferris and Dan Lawlor
Manager Jimmy Dean feels he's getting his Spalding United squad to a good place after making three stellar signings this week.
The Tulips have recruited Dan Lawlor and Dion Sembie-Ferris from National League North club Peterborough Sports.
They have been joined by former England Under 21 and Reading defender Liam Moore who was with Northampton Town last season.
It follows the acquisition last week of Nathan Fox from Southern League Premier Division Central rivals AFC Telford as Dean continues his playing revamp.
He had already added striker Bart Cybulski, defender Connor Brown, midfielders Lamine Sherif and Khanya Leshabela, attackers Maniche Sani, Connor Tomlinson and Jordan Nicholson as well as the utility ability of Kieron Freeman.
Dean said: "We were right in the relegation zone and points adrift when I came in. We're just outside it now and the next aim will be to try and pull away from it.
"We've got better tools to do that now and we're better equipped.
"We've had to do our recruitment in a mini pre-season after the season has started but I feel like we're getting to a good place now."
The arrival of Lawlor and Sembie-Ferris reunites Dean with two players who played a key role in Peterborough Sports' rise up the rankings.
Lawlor has been an integral part of the Sports side which soared from the United Counties League to step two of the non-league pyramid.
The energetic midfielder is back with the Tulips for a second spell having also featured for Stamford and St Ives earlier in his career.
Dean said: "Dan was brilliant for me for a long time as a player and I hold him in the highest esteem.
"He is someone who gives his all in every game and every training session and he's a good player as well.
"I've had four promotions with him and he's someone that I've got an awful lot of trust in."
Sembie-Ferris started his career in the full-time playing ranks with Colchester United where he made 25 appearances in the Football League.
He moved to Peterborough Sports from St Neots before returning to the club for a second spell after joining Dean during his time as manager of Scunthorpe United.
The Tulips boss added: "It's no secret of the regard that I hold Dion in.
"He finished last season really well at Sports and I think he showed everyone at Scunthorpe what he can do.
"He was well courted in the summer and there were a lot of clubs after him. He chose to go back to Sports and it hasn't worked out so, when I came in at Spalding, there was always going to be potential interest from both parties.
"We're bringing in one of the best players in the league and Dion comes in with that tag.
"He had that the last time he played at this level and I expect him to be up there again.
"Both players know me well and I trust them. They also know how I work which is really important.
"I know their standards. They will set the standards for me and work hard. There's no prima donnas - they are proper players and proper boys."
An disclosed fee has been paid for the duo in a deal which has seen Spalding striker Tyler Winters sign for the Turbines.
Winters enjoyed an impressive loan spell with the Tulips last season but has struggled to cement a regular place in the starting line-up this year.
The striker made his debut for Sports on Tuesday night in their National League North win against Alfreton Town.
Dean commented: "I didn't want Tyler to go but he wants to play football regularly and he's ambitious so you can't hold that against him.
"He's still got hopes of getting back into the professional game so I'm glad that I could help him and my old club with this move."
The Tulips head to Stratford Town on Saturday looking to bounce back after successive defeats in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
After a 2-1 home reversal against Leiston, Spalding were beaten by the same margin at Halesowen Town on Saturday.
They now face a tough trip this weekend to a Bards side who are currently in the play-off places.
Dean said: "It will be exceptionally difficult against a side in the play-offs.
"Ultimately, that's where we want to be though and what we're aspiring to.
"We didn't go to Halesowen last weekend to be scared but played good football at times.
"We didn't have as much of the ball as I wanted and ultimately we were beaten by a good side which is where we need to get to and, 100 percent, we will do that."
Midfielders Lamine Sherif and Kyle Barker will complete the final games of their respective suspensions on Saturday.
