St Albans City manager Steve Castle admits deals to keep two of their talented young players next season is "fantastic for the club".

Ross Dedman and Rob Magwood have signed contracts to remain at Clarence Park with the Saints. The pair are both products of the Saints’ academy at Oaklands College.

Dedman, 17, played in the back four during last season but ended the campaign in the centre of midfield. The versatile youngster has had previous spells in the youth set-up at Stevenage Borough and Hitchin Town.

Magwood, 18, made his debut for City in November and the tenacious midfielder skippered the youth team through five rounds of the FA Youth Cup last season.

Saints boss Castle said: "They are excellent lads that have shown a great attitude and I would like to think we will have some part in a very good career for them.

"It is fantastic news for the club. Already they have both attracted interest from league clubs. They are playing Conference South football and should do very well.

"Ross is very versatile. He sees himself as a central midfielder but he is a very good defender as well. With the skeleton squad we are going to have, they will have to adapt and play in a number of different positions. They will get a number of positions under their belts which only bodes well for the future.

"We're not going to have a massive squad again and they will be part of it. They are not signed for the future, they are signed for now and it will keep them in the shop window."

Castle hopes to bring in a striker this summer because he faces the prospect of being without Paul Hakim and Gary Cohen but he remains tight-lipped on potential arrivals.

He said: "There are two or three people we're looking at. More than likely they will be people released from football clubs who have had trials at bigger clubs."