FOREST Green boss Ady Pennock is on the verge of signing a new central-defender just days before the new Vanarama Conference Premier kick-off.

The former Stoke City coach is determined to bolster his central-defence and is hoping to get a new face in before the season starts at Southport on Saturday.

His new recruit may even face Arsenal U21s at The New Lawn on Tuesday, 7pm.

Trialist and former Port Vale defender Liam Chillvers is unlikely to be the new face despite minutes on the pitch at Brimscombe.

“I have a few irons in the fire and hope to have someone in," Pennock revealed.

"The door isn’t closed on Liam but his wife had a baby this week and I told him to spend time with his family and he wouldn’t have got many minutes against Palace."