GLOUCESTER City physio Ade Tandy is stepping down as the club physio after many years of service.

And he was received warm words of praise from manager Dave Meyhew.

Tandy is giving up the role following the Tigers' promotion to the Blue Square North because the new league requires a higher level of qualifications.

Mehew said: "Ade has been a stalwart of the club over a long period, having taken over from his late father, Bernard, who was with the club himself for many years.

"It is on the efforts of people like Ade that the club has built its success, and we are very sorry to see him go.

"We will certainly be giving him a suitable send-off at the earliest opportunity to say thanks for all these years of service to the club."

The Tigers have appointed Neil Light as their new physio.

Light recently moved to the area to work as a lecturer at the University of the West of England. He has BSc and MSc qualifications in both sports rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and experience in both professional and non-league football in the North West.

Meanwhile, Mehew is inviting up to eight trialists to join the club in pre-season as he looks to complete his squad.

He said: "Other than a new keeper, which will be announced in due course, I don't expect to sign any new players now until I have had a look at the trialists.

"Perhaps one or two of them will get the nod for the coming season as finances obviously preclude a very large squad."