Fifth new signing completed as Brackley Town welcome National League North title winner
Brackley Town have confirmed the acquisition of right-back Kieran Coates following his departure from AFC Fylde.
Saints boss Andy Whing has been determined to land some proven talent after the relegation down to the National League North and Coates represents exactly that.
The 24-year-old, a Stoke City academy graduate, helped Fylde to the National League North title last season as he featured 25 times in the English sixth tier.
Before that, Coates turned out for Boston United in the National League and Chester in the National League North. The full-back even had a spell in the Irish top flight, at Cork City.
Finally starting to get some of his priority targets over the line, Brackley manager Whing is thrilled to welcome Coates to St James Park.
“Kieran has been on our radar for a while now and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to bring him to the football club,” Whing told @BrackleyTownFC.
“He’s had a very good upbringing in Stoke and is very experienced in this division, coming off the back of a promotion with Fylde.
“Being only 24 though, there’s still loads to come from Kieran and I’m really looking forward to working with him.
“He’s a right-back who’s aggressive, on the front foot and loves to get forward, which fits in with what we’re trying to achieve.”
Coates is Brackley’s fifth signing of the summer, bringing the total number of players in the first team to seven – alongside existing stars Matt Lowe and Kyle Morrison.
Upon joining the Saints, Coates commented: “The ambition of the club was a big factor for me.
“The aim is to go straight back up and, having achieved promotion last season, I’d love to make it back-to-back promotions.
“The fans can expect an athletic right-back who likes to get up and down the pitch and contribute at both ends of the field.
“I’m really looking forward to getting started and helping the team achieve its goals.”
Coates isn’t the only promising defender joining Brackley, with 20-year-old Northampton Town centre-half Josh Tomlinson named as the sixth new acquisition.
Whing is working well with Joe Taylor and Gareth Dean to get the deals over the line, with plenty more to come in the coming weeks.