BUCKLAND Athletic 1st XI manager Matt Cusack is ‘absolutely delighted’ with the transfer business done by the club in the last 48 hours.

They had previously started the off-season with a bang by re-signing Jack Baxter as well as snapping up Toby Pullman and Michael Searle, the latter replacing outgoing goalkeeper Andrew Sowden-Bird.

A busy May has got even busier as the Bucks have now retained a key player and made another new addition.

Ryan Bush will wear yellow for at least another year as he has committed to the team for 2026/27. Cusack labelled the forward as ‘crucial’, coming off of the back of a personal best campaign.

He was the Western League’s top scorer and really stepped up in the absence of Jared Lewington- they previously shared minutes but an ACL injury ruled out Lewington and thrust Bush further into the spotlight.

“Any successful team needs a goalscorer so we’re delighted that Bushy has decided to commit again,” said Cusack.

Moving on to the new arrival and Baga Mariko “is something a little different to what we’ve got already” in the words of his new manager.

Cusack continued, “He’s a midfield destroyer with bags of energy, a box-to-box type of player.

“He is really pivotal when you’re under pressure as a team and also when the pitch turns, he comes alive as a player.”

The pair worked together previously at Helston Athletic and won silverware there too.

Buckland were lacking that type of player last year following the season-ending injury to Ruben Kane, who started out well with the club before being sidelined.

Kane will hopefully re-enter the fold in the near future but to have another option, and one who Cusack speaks so highly of, can only benefit the side as they look to go one step further and secure a top-five finish.

Cusack is “delighted with these two” signings and teases that “There will be plenty more to come.