GRAHAM Turner confirmed that he is in talks with defender Dean Beckwith and midfielder Stacy Coldicott, writes Gary York.

Hereford United's director of football is determined to secure the pair as he looks to assemble a squad of 22 ahead of the new Nationwide Conference campaign.

Stevenage winger Jon Brady and Exeter defender Alex Jeannin have already checked in to Edgar Street this summer, but Turner is steaming ahead to capture another new duo.

"We are very interested in him (Coldicott) and we are continuing talks," said Turner. "But he is still registered with Grimsby Town. It's the same with Dean -- we are in talks.

"I am looking to bring in six, maybe seven players. Because the transfer window has been brought in, restricting teams from signing players during the season, we need our squad to be a little bit bigger than last year. I am looking at 20 to 22 players in total."

Turner refused to be drawn on when an outcome with both players is likely to be announced.

Out-of-contract Coldicott, 31, is currently training with Coca Cola League One side Grimsby, where he has spent the last seven seasons, in a bid to stay fit.

The Redditch-born midfielder started his career with West Brom before joining the Mariners for £125,000 in July 1998.

Beckwith, 21, was released by Gillingham earlier this month having come through the youth system at Priestfield. The tall defender spent a short loan spell with Dagenham and Redbridge during the 2003/04 season, when he featured in a 1-1 draw against the Bulls at Edgar Street.

Meanwhile, Simon Travis is due to report back to pre-season training with his team-mates on July 6.

But the full-back is expected to carry out only light training work as he recovers from a punctured lung and broken ribs injury.

He suffered the damage playing for the England National Game XI at the end-of-season Home Nations tournament in Ireland.

Midfielder Jamie Pitman heads to Lilleshall on Monday for a week's rehabilitation following his close-season shoulder operation.