By Matt Lawton
September 6 2006

Stuart Humphreys has made his first signings since becoming RMI manager last month with the capture of both Paul Howarth and Hugh McAuley. 29 year old midfielder Hugh McAuley joins the club after a spell in the Nationwide Conference with Tamworth, having once cost Cheltenham Town £20,000 as a young striker leaving his first club, Leek Town, in July 1999. McAuley made more than one hundred appearances for Cheltenham before gaining extensive experience with the likes of Aldershot, Forest Green and Northwich and joins the club after an impressive trial spell that saw him feature for in RMI's succesful reserve side.

25 year old Howarth had an impressive debut on the right side of midfield in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Blyth Spartans and has now joined the club on a permanent basis following his impressive trial. Howarth started his career as a right back with Shrewsbury Town before moving nearer to his Lancashire roots by spending nearly three years with Accrington Stanley, scoring a vital penalty in their FA Cup run of last season.

Both players are expected to be in the squad to face Kettering Town at Hilton Park this coming Saturday.