BROMSGROVE Sporting manager Paul Smith expects a trio of last season’s squad members to commit for the 2015-16 season.

Chris Conway, who bagged 22 goals last season, and defenders Craig Jones and Scott Smith are all expected to sign on for another season at the Victoria Ground.

It follows on from a very positive week for Sporting who revealed that a host of players have signed forms.

From last season’s squad, which finished runners-up in Midlands Division One, highly-rated players Sean Brain, Josh McKenzie, Simon Fitter, Reece Hewitt, Daniel Ludlow and Sam Wills have all agreed to remain.

New additions Luke Dugmore, Umit Eminoglu and Aaron Roberts were confirmed, while experienced defender Brendan Kelly has also come on board.

The Rouslers boss was also confident that former Stratford left-back Harry Donahue and winger Ollie Gibson, younger brother of Glasgow Rangers bound brother Jordan, were set to sign.

Smith said: “It was important that we sign up the players who did so well last season and Josh, Sam and Reece were being chased by a host of clubs.

“We are close to finalising Chris, Scott and Craig and I am very happy with how the squad is shaping up.

“We’ve had seven great training sessions as well and we’ll be working very hard before our first pre-season on July 11.”

Meanwhile, the club has revealed they have increased their season ticket prices for the coming season to ensure they can pay their bills.

Adults (21 to 65) will now pay £6 to attend a match, with pensioners (over-65s) £4, £2 for students and 12 to 20-year-olds, while under-12s are free.

Season tickets are also now available and are £100 for adults, £55 for pensioners, £30 for juniors and students and £140 for vice presidents.

Despite boasting much larger crowds than any of their rivals in their division, averaging between 250 and 300 and going above 500 for big games, Sporting must pay £12,000 a year rent to Bromsgrove District Council, which rises to £14,400 because the club held back rent in the early days in order to improve the Victoria Ground.

Work to improve the floodlights, changing rooms and water conservation system has been completed, which was paid for by a series of grants.

Chairman, John Teece said: “We have held our prices for two years in most cases but rising costs force these changes.

“By admitting younger people for free we hope we have made it easier for them as they are our future.

“Other clubs at our level do charge less but they are not VAT registered, nearly 17 per cent of our prices go in tax.

“We also have expensive premises and gate money does not even cover the rent, electricity, water and insurance.

“We pay Bromsgrove District Council £14,400 each year for the privilege of playing at a ground that was donated to them for football.

“To obtain grants for improvements we needed a 21-year lease and were charged £12,000, previously it was a peppercorn rent. So it costs us £60,000 to obtain grants of £160,000 which we then spent on council property.”