Iron player/coach Andy Dawson is looking forward to the new season and has stated that he will give 110% to each side of his dual role.
Dawson signed a one-year-deal to extend his second spell at the club after appearing 22 times whilst holding the same role last year.And the full-back is happy to have put pen to paper and can’t wait for things to get going again.
“I’m glad to finally get it all sorted,” he told The Iron Player.
“We came back for a testing day today and everybody has come back fit and ready to go so it’s a relief to get it all sorted and now I can focus on next season.
“I enjoyed it last year and obviously things went well. Maybe this year I might be a little bit more on the coaching side but we’ll wait and see how things go.
“I’ve prepared as I normally do for pre-seasons as a player and I’ll work hard every day in training and hopefully help the lads and keep myself fit.
“If and when I’m needed I’ll be ready, giving 110% to each side of the role.”
It’s been a busy summer for the 35-year-old as Dawson has been boosting his coaching qualifications which can only be of benefit to himself and also to the members of United’s squad.
And whilst Dawson admitted it was difficult at times, he’s hoping it will all prove to be helpful throughout the upcoming campaign.
He continued: “I did the first part of my A Licence which lasted for 13 days at St George’s Park.
“It was very intense and very difficult at times but now I’ve been there and I’ve done my 13 days, I’m hoping I’ll look back on it and think it was helpful.
“It’s something that you need and there are plenty of bits that I can take from it into the season.
“Hopefully I’ll get a bit of a chance to do my coaching and fill my package throughout the season as well.”
Dawson will no doubt be working closely with the club’s new assistant manager John Schofield throughout the campaign as both a coach and a player and stated that he is looking forward to linking up with the former Lincoln City manager.
Following a successful morning of fitness testing on Tuesday, Dawson is also now looking forward to the beginning of full pre-season training on 3 July.
“I don’t know John but I’ve heard Russ talk about him and I’ve come across him in football before,” he added.
“I know Russ thinks very highly of him so I’m sure he’ll be a great guy and a great coach and I’ll look forward to working with him.
“The lads did fantastically well with the pre-season testing, as expected nowadays.
“I think players don’t go and have six or seven weeks off and work for two anymore, they do it the other way round.
“They probably have two or three weeks off and then go and start getting ready for pre-season and the lads have come back in good shape and we’re all now ready to go when the lads come back for the first day of pre-season proper.”
See much more from Andy Dawson on The Iron Player.