PAUL Barry admitted this week the two newest arrivals at the Beveree are in preparation for life after Tom Hickey.

Tommy Brewer and former Hampton favourite Stuart Lake have been drafted in to bolster midfield resources with Borough all but resigned to the fact Hickey will be moving on to pastures new amid trials with professional clubs.

Barry made clear no-one would stand in the way of the popular midfielder (pictured), who has trials with Brentford and Crawley this summer, realising his ambitions.

He said: "Tom’s departure is not a certainty, but he has had a few trials and made clear he wants to play full-time football next season.

"We believe he is good enough to do that so if he goes he will go with our blessing."

The Beavers’ joint manager appeared bullish about the signing of Brewer who caught his eye when scoring against Hampton for Carshalton last year.

The Robins were one off several clubs the 20-year-old turned out for last season, his first at Ryman Premier.

Brewer has indicated in the past he plays his best for a manager prepared to put an arm around his shoulder and Barry is confident he and fellow boss Darren Powell can foster the Hampton lad’s blossoming talent.

He said: “Everyone we have spoken to has said if he is looked after Tommy can be a hell of a player and we would not have signed him if we didn’t think we could get the best out of him.

“His energy was good when he played against us and with the likelihood of losing Tom we wanted someone like him in the middle of the park.”

Lake will take little or no introduction to Beavers’ supporters having played 110 games in his first spell for the club before leaving for Basingstoke in 2010.

He won player of the year twice with the Blue Square South outfit and Barry believes he will bring experience and more to the table.

He added: “We will be a predominantly young squad next year bar Darren and perhaps Gary Holloway if he stays, so Stuart will give us experience, but a man who has played regularly at the level above and won player of the year twice has a lot more to offer than just that.”