The club will be announcing two more signings for 2012 on their website tomorrow morning...



Meanwhile the Dons start their pre-season campaign this weekend with a trip to the east coast. The players and coaches will be walking from Scarborough to Whitby which is certainly not as easy as it sounds.



As the crow flies it's approximately 20 miles but following the coastline makes it a challenging 26 miles. And to make things worse the players will be carrying a 50kg log with them as well as their rucksacks.



The players will split up into three or four groups and will start the walk at 8:30am on Saturday morning. The teams will have to demonstrate good teamwork as it's a very demanding walk in places. The Ravenscar area is particularly tough with bleak and windy conditions and peaks at 631 feet above sea level.



This will be the second time the club has used the walk as a pre-season opener and it is more than a worthwhile activity according to the Dons' fitness conditioner Pete Bell: "The lads got a lot out of it last year but it was very tough going as we had the heavy snow to deal with.



"I've checked the weather forecast ahead of this weekend's trip and have been told that it is going to be fine which is good news for the players!



"Last year there were quite a few of the lads who thought it was going to be easy but it suddenly became quiet around 5 miles in to the walk.



"Because of the snow we had, it took almost 8 and a half hours to complete but I'm hoping they will finish it much quicker this year and the aim is 6 and a half hours.



"I'm really looking forward to the weekend and I'm sure it will prove to be a good team bonding session with the old and new players that have joined the club.



"There's no doubt that it's a very tough walk so the players will need to be well-prepared - I've advised them to take plenty of food and fluids for the journey."



The team will be staying in Whitby overnight but will have an early start on Sunday morning and will be participating in various goal setting and team building exercises before heading back home.



"The players will become very familiar with a particular Whitby attraction on Sunday morning - in fact all 199 steps of it!" added Bell.

What's the betting that as soon as they are announced we'll have a rash of 'I knew who they were all along, but had to wait until the announcement' type comments?





Sorry, I am bored waiting that's all.





Will these two players also be on the yomp at the coast?

That's a fair old introduction to your new club.



I am assuming these players are new, are they?

To be fair, we've not had much of that this year

I've actually seen this lad play for Shaw Cross, and he is a bit of a handful..

Jamie Crowther.



Who is the other one?

Jamie Rooney?





Back to Jamie Crowther ... he looks the part ... if it's possible to judge a book by the cover ... he looks a good one.

I thought we had signed a Kiwi when I first glanced at his photo ... one day maybe, there will be another Kemp?

Or another Hall?

I knew he was all along, but had to wait until the announcement

Well of course I knew all along too.

It's Leslie's grandson who has come on down cos the price is right.

Of course I knew about this guy, but couldn't spoil things until the announcement.



Incidentally ... did I mention I've heard of him?



I've a feeling we won't be wanting in the forwards this season.

It's all about getting these guys match fit.

COYD

Bring it on.

By my calculations we need another centre, another winger and one (at the very least) or preferably two halfbacks.

What do I know though?

Sweet fanny!

You are spot on Stand Offish , bring em on .

Agree with Stand-Offish and weighman 100%. Must admit I was a bit disappointed when Castle was announced (not because I think its a poor signing quite the contrary it has got me quite excited about our pack) just because I was desperately hoping we'd hear about a halfback today

Perhaps we are saving the best till last.

I hope so.

Personally I think it is preferable to sign top players first in the hope that others will be attracted.

But players are signed in reality as and when.

This is all predicated on us getting a top halfback ... fingers crossed.

We definitely need one (if not two) quality preferably 'name' half backs and three three-quarters for me (to create healthy competion).



I would say the forwards are sorted now.

agreed ideally another fullback, a centre and a winger

I agree with Adam.



The pack looks very good on paper and should be a match for all teams in this league.



The creativity in the backs is still leaving us all little concerned.



I'd guess that our expectation for the season will really be determined by the players still to be signed. If they're "excellent" missing pieces to the jigsaw then we can be hoping to challenge for a spot in the top two.



If they're only in the "good" or "okay" category, we might be pushing for a promotion spot.



What wouldn't we give for a Luke Gale, a Shad Royston, and a very speedy winger?!

Decent money?

AdamH , Waterman can cover at full back if Butts gets injured.

Sanderson and Colton both used there previously too.

Andy Speake (ex Dons) played today at 6 for Fryston, and IMO could still do well for us.

As a back-up maybe.

But I think we need to raise our sights a little more than that.

I think that Championship 1 this coming season will be of a surprisingly high standard.

We need the best we can afford as playmakers, otherwise we won't get promotion