PRESIDENT Thomas Guerriero has vowed to expand Oxford City’s international recruitment drive.

City assembled a multi-national squad for last season’s Conference North campaign, including five Spaniards, two Frenchmen and a Tanzanian.

Florida-based Guerriero believes it is key that the club continue to look beyond British borders for talent.

“If we have the ability to look into a larger pool of players and see if there’s talent there, we’re going to do it,” he said.

“If they come from America, Mexico, Spain, Portugal or wherever we obviously want the best players to play.

“We don’t care where they are from.”

While general manager Justin Merritt and head coach Enrique Guillen will step up their recruitment drive with trials in Santander next month, Guerriero has also been active across the Atlantic.

After establishing an Oxford City franchise in Texas last year in the Major Arena Soccer League, Guerriero has now purchased a stake in Mexican side Soles de Sonora.

And he feels the expansion will have a positive impact in Oxford.

“I think you’re going to find that what Oxford City is planning on doing is going global,” said Guerriero.

“What we’re doing in Mexico is going to open up the gateway to South America and Mexico and with what we’re doing in America, building our stadium in Florida and all the other different things there, we feel that the future is obviously tremendous for Oxford City.

“A lot of things we’re doing now in terms of the infrastructure a lot of people aren’t going to realise until several years down the road, but it’s definitely an exciting time.”

Several members of City’s successful futsal team, Oxford City Lions, also turned out for Guerriero’s indoor football team in Texas last season and he anticipates further exchange of players in future.

Guerriero said: “Emilio (Jiminez Torres), Gonzalo (Munoz) and Jese (Rama) all played in the United States this season and they did really well over there.

“We’re having a couple of Mexican academy and youth kids coming over for trials before this season to see if they can make the first team and really start to assimilate that bridge to South America and the United States.

“The goal is having these networks and having these relationships around the world where players are going to stem from.

“I think it’s going to put us on the path toward success for the future.

“The foundation that we’re laying down day after day is really going to put us in a position to do that.”