Stamford AFC secure the signings of Joe Boachie and Joe Burgess

Manager Graham Drury has made a double signing swoop with one eye on next season if his promotion-chasing side are unable to continue their current campaign.

Joe Boachie and Joe Burgess both signed BetVictor Northern Premier League forms this week to rejoin the Daniels after spells at the Zeeco Stadium last season.

Midfielder Burgess departed the Daniels in the summer for Corby Town after scoring 12 goals last season while livewire striker Boachie has been sidelined for the campaign after sustaining a serious knee ligament injury.

The duo may not get the chance to feature in this season’s title-chasing South East Division side with league chiefs indicating that they want to terminate the campaign which has been suspended for the past fortnight due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, Stamford boss Drury was pleased to have the duo at his disposal should the need arise.

He said: “They have both agreed to sign for this season if it continues, but we’ve also got one eye on next year. They are two good players to have on board.

“Joe (Boachie) came through a university game a couple of weeks ago and has got the all clear to start playing again after his anterior cruciate ligament injury last season.

“He scored some wonder goals for us last season and would probably have been signed by a professional club but for his injury at the back end of the season.

“It’s also great to have a player like Joe Burgess on board. We needed another option in midfield because it has been proved in the results how much we missed Harry Vince when he was suspended.

“Joe can play as a three in there, as a full-back or at centre-half. He got 12 goals for us last season so it’s a great addition.”

The Daniels are currently awaiting a decision on the future of their season after a series of meetings by league chiefs in the past week.

The Northern Premier League has said in its statement this week that they are unanimous in wanting to terminate the 2019/20 season immediately.

However, whether that is done on the basis of determining the final placings via average points per game or the season is declared null and void, cannot be decided until the National League’s intentions are confirmed.

Stamford are currently two points behind league leaders Leek Town but 13 clear of third-placed Cleesthorpes and manager Drury would ideally like to be given the chance to finish the campaign.

He commented: “It’s going to be interesting to see what decision is made.

“Ideally I want the season to carry on because I do believe that we could go on and catch Leek and win the title.

“If that’s not possible then the points-per-game or promote the top two would be my obvious choice.

“Both ourselves and Leek have been head and shoulders above this season and the messages I’ve had from other managers in our league have agreed with that.

“Stamford do deserve a bit of luck because we’ve been switched between leagues a couple of times, lost a reprieve on an appeal and there’s been a couple of other occasions when we should really have been promoted.

“If the season is finished then we’ve ended with seven successive wins, 21 goals for and five against, with our last match in front of more than 500 fans which isn’t a bad way to end.”