Yaxley boss proud to have loyal and committed Cuckoos

Midfielder Dan Jarvis has left the Decker Bus Stadium to join higher-level Peterborough Sports with Yaxley’s blessing, but Furnell has retained the rest of the players who were at the club when lockdown caused an abrupt end to the season with the Cuckoos sitting prettily in eighth spot.

And exciting young forward Sam Bennett has joined the club permanently following his release from Cambridge United at the end of his scholarship.

“We must have five or six players who have made over 250 appearances for the club,” Furnell enthused.

“I love that sort of loyalty and commitment so I’m delighted almost all of last season’s squad has signed on again.

“We will miss Dan Jarvis of course, but we promised him when he joined us that we wouldn’t stand in his way of progressing further.

“I did think he might join Chelmsford in step two, but he’s decided to have a go at Sports and we all hope it goes well for him.

“DJ is an excellent footballer whether he’s used in midfield or a full-back.

“He’ll probably get paid a bit more at Sports, but the move won’t be about money for him. He is an ambitious lad who wants to play as high as possible.

“I will keep an eye out for a new midfielder, but it’s not essential as I have four good lads who can play in his attacking midfield position.

“We don’t pay as much as other clubs at our level. We tend to pick up the players left over, but that’s not the case with Sam Bennett.

“He was playing very well for us while on loan when we were forced to shut down last season and he enjoyed it which is why he wanted to come back.

“I am a proud manager when that happens. We want to win matches, but we also want to provide a positive, enjoyable environment.

“We’ve been back doing some socially distant training for a few weeks now and it’s been going well.

“We were eighth when the season stopped and if we’d gone on a run we might well have squeezed into the play-offs. I fancy us to go well again.

“I certainly feel confident enough to be sure of staying in the division.”