Squad set to return for pre-season training on June 23rd

First team manager Keith Hill has provided an update to Iron Player, with the squad set to return for pre-season training on Thursday, June 23rd.

Talking about the players' pre-season schedule, he said: "We've been planning it for quite a while now. We’ve got a programme of work that starts on the 23rd, and we’ve got some very good pre-season friendlies that’ll be testing for the squad of players. We’re hopeful the pain we suffered last season when introducing the young players will be a big benefit not just for the players but for the football club in the future."

When talking further about pre-season training, he continued: “It’s going to be testing, it’ll be an introduction to the demands of which we’re going to play with in and out of possession. We’ve got to talk through the discipline, we want self-discipline, we want team discipline, we want respect, we want good players to perform with moral values.

"There's also an emphasis on the way we want the players to act in and around the public, on the training pitch, showing respect to our opposition, the officials and all.

"We’re going to be doing initial testing and introduction, and then we’ll start the training on the Friday."

Three home friendlies have been announced against Sheffield United, Rochdale and Peterborough United, with two further tests away at Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC and Farsley Celtic in the run-up to the National League season getting underway on Saturday, August 6th.

Hill said: "We went through a lot of planning and preparation to make sure we got a good variation of opposition that’s going to test us in different ways, but from day one there will be an introduction of the style in which we want to play.

"When meeting players it’s important that you understand what it is we need to do and where we’re going to do it in relation to where the ball is, the opposition, and the way we want to play, and you don’t get enough time sometimes.

"However, as a manager, the six weeks is an integral part of the plan for the upcoming season of 46 games plus cup games."