Stamford manager Graham Drury on signing Kyle Rowley from Redditch amid competition from Stratford and Bedford

Stamford manager Graham Drury believes he’s landed the ideal replacement for James Blunden.

Centre-half Blunden ended his seven-season stay with the Daniels by joining Cleethorpes at the end of last month.

He’ll be missed after making 223 appearances for the club, scoring 38 goals.

But Drury has moved to fill the void by signing Kyle Rowley from Southern League Premier Central rivals Redditch.

He captained the Ditch last season and rejected moves to Stratford and Bedford to sign for Stamford.

“Losing Jimmy (Blunden), he scored quite a few goals from set-plays and Kyle’s known for getting a few goals,” said Drury, who has further signings lined up.

“He attacks the ball well so hopefully he can chip in with a few.

“He’s a leader, he was captain at Redditch last season, so he’s a leader on the pitch and he’s a great lad in the dressing room, so hopefully he’ll fit the bill and come in and do a steady job for us.

“That’s what we’re hoping and we’re looking forward to it.

“He had Stratford and Bedford, from Step 2, after him, so he took a few phone calls and I had a meeting with him for a couple of hours at the club and showed him round and showed him what we’re looking to build with the new developments going on.

“Obviously he’s played against my sides a lot and he likes the way I manage and the way I motivate the group.

“He sees a real togetherness in the group, I sold it to him and in the end, he decided Stamford over Stratford and Bedford, so that was really pleasing.”

Drury is big on signing the right characters, as well as good players, and Rowley fits the bill. He’ll have no problems setting in at Stamford.

“You make or break or in my dressing room,” said Drury. “The group are so tight and they welcome everybody but you have to be a proper team player.

“The players soon let you know if you’re not, so the dressing room sorts itself out in that sense.

“I’ll only have good characters, I won’t have any lads who want to do their own thing.

“They’re a team and they all join in and mix in and they socialise together as well.

“It’s really important we get those same characters of what we’ve lost back into the dressing room and I think Kyle fits the bill well.”

Stamford report for pre-season training on Tuesday.

The squad will be put through their paces before Drury sends separate sides to friendlies at Blackstones and Harrowby next Saturday.

“I’ve got a working programme that we usually get so many sessions and so many games into them,” said Drury.

“We’re perhaps a week short on what we normally do but I’m a big believer that the lads need a summer holiday and a break from the game.

“It also gives me that little bit longer to put my side together. They’re all fit lads these days, not like we used to be when lots of went out on the booze.

“A lot of them don’t drink now, they’re fitness freaks who live at the gym.

“In my day it was get down the pub, socialise together and go out on the pitch and have a good craic and win a game of football that way.

“But it’s totally different now with the way the lads keep themselves in shape.”