Striker Mitch Bryant is almost ready to return to the Mossley team. Bryant was suspened from all football last October when the FA banned him until the coming 15th July following an altercation with a referee at the end of the home game against Kendal Town.

After serving the suspension, Lilywhites’ joint-manager Peter Band told The Oldham Chronicle that he is delighted and relieved: “We’ve really missed Mitch, but to be honest he has been great during his time away.

“After we decided to ditch an appeal against his ban in December, he’s kept himself fit and always joined us for training whenever he could. He’s almost back in business again.

“Our first friendly is against Stalybridge on July 14 so he can’t play in that, but he’ll be ready for the match at Congleton on the 16th.”

Bryant scored 7 goals in just 9 starts for Mossley last season prior to his ban.

On the downside the club have lost the services of last season's Managers Player of the Year John Bennett who has joined newly promoted now National League North side Curzon Ashton wanting to try his hand at the higher level.

The popular Bennett has been an excellent servant to the club in his two years at Seel Park having signed in August 2013 from Winsford United. He went on to make 70 appearances for the Lilywhites despite twice breaking bones.

The last of his 5 goals for the club came after just 15 seconds of the Manchester Premier Cup Final victory over his new club, while he also scored Mossley's 'Goal of the Season' in 2014 with a long range thunderbolt against Warrington Town. He won the 'Mossleyweb Player of the Year' award in the same season.

The management team are disappointed that central defender Josh Granite has chosen to make a sideways move to relegated Trafford, who rejoin the Evo-stik League First Divison North following relegation from the Premier Division, after just one season at Seel Park.

Granite made 45 appearances for the Lilywhites last term, scoring three goals, the most significant of which was the stoppage time winner in the dramatic 4-3 victory at Farsley last September.

The majority of last seasons squad are ready to return, while James Blair and Ryan Marley are also set for comebacks after lengthy injury lay offs. There will be a small number of new additions to be revealed soon with pre season training to begin on Saturday 25th June.