Keogh: 'New signings can take us up'
Town reached the Southern Midlands play-offs in 2007 and agonisingly missed out last year on goal difference on the last day of the season.
But having brought in goalkeeper Tony Breeden and Nathan Lamey from Rushall Olympic and midfielder Graham Deakin from Bromsgrove – along with the return of Matt Jackson from Boldmere – Keogh is happy with how his squad is shaping up.
With Nuneaton and Leamington promoted last year and likely title favourites Chasetown moved across to the Northern League, Keogh (pictured left) believes the Southern Midlands could be wide open.
He told Observer Sport: "Junior Brown has gone to train with Solihull Moors but we all report back for training tomorrow (Saturday) and everybody else has signed.
"I'm quite excited by the signings we have made and they should give us plenty of competition for places.
"Chasetown have gone and with Nuneaton Town and Leamington getting promoted, that's our three biggest gates of the season gone so it will affect us from a financial point of view.
"It's still going to be a strong league again with Chesham and Aylesbury – there will be a few teams capable of being up there and there is always the unknown quantity who surprises everyone like Atherstone did last year.
"But it's about what we do and I am confident with the squad we have got together – we just have to start well, unlike last season when we made a disastrous start.
"We just missed out last year which was heartbreaking but it was a remarkable achievement to finish where we did considering how we started."
Striker Lamey has been the league's top scorer in the past and Keogh is hoping for big things from him, if he can steer clear of injury.
Keogh added: "When Nathan is fit we know what he is capable of – every time he has played against us he has scored goals.
"He missed three months of the season for Rushall and still scored 20 goals.
"He's still only young at 29 and should be coming to his peak and if we can get him fully fit we have great competition up there with Jamille Matt, Neil Davis and Jimmy Quiggan.
"Hopefully, the additions we have made to the squad can give us that little extra push."
Keogh has also swooped to make former Rushall boss Paul Holleran his assistant manager after the departure of Steve Hinks to take over at Darlaston Town.
The Royals boss added: "I was delighted when Paul agreed to come here because he had a couple of other offers and he really knows this level and the players well."
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