REDDITCH United have put five of their young guns on contract as manager Liam McDonald aims to ensure some stabilty at the club.

Edwin Ahenkorah, Harry Austin, Joel Cain, Levi Oshungbure and Jordan Anderson have all put pen to paper on contracts.

With former Tamworth hitman Kyle Patterson also secured on a contract, McDonald is hoping not to lose his best players.

He said: “We are starting to build a team at the club and what we don’t want is someone to leave mid-way through the season. I want the club to have a strong core of players and this is one way of doing that.

“It means that the only way to lose players is to have their contracts bought out.”

McDonald has whittled down his group to 20 players and has been re-building his squad with a mix of up and coming young players from under-18s football or with slightly older heads such as Patterson.

He is also keen to sign Dutch wideman Passeka Kargbo, who spent the second-half of last season at Halesowen Town’s youth team.

The 17-year-old had previously been at Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

McDonald added: “I am taking a risk with Passeka because there are people who think he’s not ready for the physical side of senior football but I think he’s worth it.

“He’s got loads of talent and will have the fans on the edge of their seats and quite often off them.

“His English is quite good but if he has any problems Edwin Ahenkorah — who is also Dutch — will be able to help him out.”

United continued their preparations for the 2013-14 season in the Calor League with a 2-2 draw at Evesham United, where Kargbo had a chance to impress.

Redditch missed the injured quarter of Charlie Reece (toe), Patterson, Jamie Molyneux and Bairoh Conteh, although the last two were expected to play in last night’s friendly against Studley.

United complete their friendly programme at home to Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday (3pm ko).

Meanwhile, the club are holding a pre-season party after the game in the Reds Bar, which includes a question and answer session with the manager.