CHEYE Alexander and Jack Saville have both signed new one-year contracts to stay with Aldershot Town.

Full-back Alexander is the third member of last season’s squad to agree a deal with Gary Waddock, after playing every minute of all 46 National League fixtures in 2015-16.

He initially joined the Shots from Bishop’s Stortford in February 2015, making four appearances before being offered a full contract last summer.

“We’ll help him develop his game even more this season and make him an even better player,” said manager Waddock. “I want my full-backs to be athletic and fit enough to get up and down the pitch and to have an attacking element to their game as well.”

Alexander, 21, spent ten years with the West Ham Academy before being released in 2013. He then played for Port Vale, Ilkeston Town (on loan) and Concord Rangers before joining Bishop’s Stortford.

“The gaffer loves to play attacking football and I’ve been brought up that way at West Ham,” said Alexander. “First and foremost, I’m a defender, but I like his style. He explained what he felt my strengths and weaknesses were, which shows that he knows what kind of player I am.”

Jack Saville joined Aldershot from Barnet last summer and made 26 appearances at centre-back and left-back, having played the same number of games for the Bees in winning the 2014-15 Vanarama Conference title.

“He knows that he’s got to knuckle down,” said his new manager. “I think he should be playing at a higher level and I will work with him to help him achieve that. I don’t think Shots fans have seen the best of him and with a good pre-season, I think we’ll see a better player.”

The Camberley-born defender is a graduate of the Reading and Chelsea youth academies and subsequently turned professional with Southampton in 2009 when he was 18.

Loan spells with Stockport and Yeading followed before he made his Football League debut with Barnet in a loan move which was soon made permanent.

Saville said: “I didn’t play as well as I can last season. I played well in some games, but I got too many injuries. If I can get a good run in the team, I’m looking to kick on this season. I want to play every game.”