TRANMERE Rovers' latest signings say they are ready for the challenge of lifting the club out of Conference football.

Defender Liam Hogan and goalscoring midfielder Lois Maynard were signed by Gary Brabin today.

Hogan, 26, has Football League experience having spent the last two seasons with Fleetwood Town, making 24 appearances for the Lancashire club.

He also has experience of the Conference having had a spell with FC Halifax Town and a loan spell in 2014-15 with Macclesfield Town and arrives on a one-year contract.

Rovers where relegated from the Football League last month after being 3-2 by Plymouth Argyle and new manager Gary Brabin is putting his squad together in preparation for next season. 

During a press conference at Prenton Park this afternoon, Liam Hogan said: "I've taken a step back from League football at Fleetwood, but I’m really hungry to be in Gary's side.

"It's a fantastic club “We’re under no illusions that Conference is a very difficult league. There are some big clubs here. We’ll push for promotion as quick as we can.

"I've heard a lot about the manager, but never worked with him yet, but am looking forward to it.

"I'll be working as hard as I can over pre-season to try and get a shirt in the first eleven.

“It’s so important that standards are kept as high as we can possibly keep them."

Maynard comes to Prenton Park following a two-year spell with Conference side FC Halifax Town and has attracted interest from a number of Football League clubs.

He is a midfield player who, last season, was named FC Halifax Town’s Player of the Season as well as Player's Player of the Season after scoring 12 goals in 39 appearances for the Shaymen.

He has agreed a two-year contract with the club.

He said: "I've listened to the chairman and the manager and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

"It's a very nice stadium and I can’t wait to play here.

"Gary wants a lot high-energy and goals. I thrive off the challenge of that.

"The standard in the Conference has never been as high as it is now.

“It’s going to be tough, but if we all stick together and do what we have to do, there should be no reason why we can’t beat these part-time teams.

Hogan and Maynard bring the number of new players signed by Gary Brabin as the club prepares for next season to five.

The first, striker James Norwood signed a two-year deal on May 13.

Last week midfielder Jay Harris signed a one-year deal with Rovers and former Mansfield defender Ritchie Sutton signed a two-year deal.

During the press conference at Prenton Park this afternoon Brabin - who was appointed on May 5 – said: "I want to give us the best start to the season and hit the ground running.

"It's a hard league. The biggest challenge we've got is expectation.

"When you’re playing against teams you’ve never heard of, you think you’ve got a divine right to beat them but you haven’t. We’re under no illusions that it’s a difficult league.

"I have to bring in a group of players who will wear the shirt with pride.

He continued: "It's important to bring in the right people as he looks to further strengthen the squad over the summer.

"I've concentrated on the spine of the side so far. I needed to get the right type of people in, characters, leaders and winners, and I'm delighted with what I've been able to achieve.

But we want goals and we're still looking for that, on top of Norwood and Maynard who will get us goals.

"They've got to be the right character and the right type of player to fit into what we're trying to build here."

On the new appointments, Brabin said earlier today: "I am really pleased to be able to bring these two players to the club.

"Liam is a versatile defender who has good experience of this division and those above.

"Lois is a high-energy attacking midfielder who can score goals from midfield and also offers us a physical presence.

"They are both winners and leaders and I’m delighted that they have decided to join the club."