PAUL Smith believes Bromsgrove Sporting have the squad to launch a title challenge in Midlands Division One.

The Rouslers head into their season opener at home to Southam on Saturday (3pm ko) with an 18 strong group.

Expectations have been raised at the Victoria Ground after last season's second-place finish and the securing of key men such as Josh McKenzie, Sean Brain and Reece Hewitt.

With only one team able to win promotion and sides such as Hinckley, Leicester Road and Lichfield expected to mount strong challenges, Smith is well aware of the difficulty of the task in hand.

He said: "This summer I wanted to make sure we were stronger than last season and I definitely think I have achieved that.

"I have a good squad of 18 players, not just a good first team and that will make a difference.

"But this is a hard league to get out of and there will be a lot of teams who will fancy their chances.

"But pre-season has been good and I feel we enter the season well prepared."

Sporting, who completed their pre-season programme with a 1-0 win over Runcorn on Saturday, have signed Aaron Williams.

But they are looking for another keeper after Jake Bedford stunned the club by saying he was signing for Lye.

Smith wanted Bedford and Shaun Edwards, who joined from Alvechurch in the summer, to compete for the goalkeeper's sport.

But the former Redditch United goalkeeper rang Smith last Tuesday to let him know he was switching to the Black Country club to be their first choice.

Smith said: "I told Jake last season I wanted to bring in another keeper for competition and in Shaun we've got a very good player.

"It was well documented that I was not very happy with the way he handled it but I wish him the best of luck.

"We have keepers in the under-21s and 18s if we needed cover but I do want to bring in another keeper."

Southam will be smarting from being edged out 3-2 by Sporting in the final of the Les James Challenge Cup in May and Smith expects the Warwickshire side to be among the title challengers.

After that, Sporting go to Pelsall Villa on Tueday night (7.45pm kick-off).