After finishing runners-up in the Cymru Premier for a consecutive season, a lot of work has already been put into the upcoming season with Europe on the horizon for The New Saints.
Anthony Limbrick was busy just before and after the season finished with a lot to plan with pre-season already starting last week after having two off as the Australian describes.
He said, “A lot of preparation for pre-season happened before the end of the season in getting ready fixtures, training programs, and what we were going to do with the players.
“There was a lot going around during that time and two weeks come round quick.
“We have still got a five-week pre-season before the first European game and that’s plenty of time for us and enough time to get ourselves ready.”
The Saints have already made their first signing of the summer in signing Danny Davies from rivals Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Limbrick has already been impressed with Davies in training and is looking forward to work with him in the coming weeks.
“Danny Davies is a great character, he’s a winner. He played a lot of games for Connah’s Quay last season, played in a varied position”, added Limbrick.
“He can play on both sides, very athletic attacking full back.
“So he is a really good signing for us, and I am really excited to work with him.
“He has trained well so far and showing his quality and good attributes already.”
Limbrick is looking to make additions, not just to the squad but also to the starting lineup. However, the former Woking boss knows that it will not be easy.
He said; “We are looking at all options at the moment.
“There is a lot of work that goes into a signing and the recruitment of players now, a lot of diligence and research
“We need to improve the starting eleven and not just the actual squad aswell.
“The one goal is winning the league title back at the moment and that is what you need to do when you are a TNS head coach.
“So you need to do the recruitment around that to put us in the best position for next season.”
Another area where players will potentially get into the first team is through the academy.
Limbrick gave game time to the likes of Josh Bailey towards the end of last season.
Having previously worked at the likes of Southampton and West Ham, Limbrick knows the potential that could be found at the younger age groups.
The TNS boss said; “We regularly last week had academy players train with the first team.
“That is really good to expose them to the rigours of first team football.
“I can have a look at them but also make them get use to training with first team players and men.
“The academy is punching well above its wait with the quality of players that is being produced.
“You look at players that are a first or second-year pro like Lewis Bradford, Beau Cornish and Josh Bailey who has started well this pre-season.
“There are a lot of young players here that have the potential and ability to step up and train with the first team.”
Simon Spender was one of eight players not to have their contract renewed for the upcoming campaign but will continue to work part time with the first team as a member of staff.
Spender takes us the role as assistant head of performance while also continuing to work on from last season with the academy.
Limbrick acknowledges the importance of keeping Spender around the group.
He said; “Simon Spender knows TNS inside out having been here for years and he has won a lot of trophies here.
“So it was really important that we kept him around the group and the club.
“He is still working with the academy also aswell with the under 19’s but helping the first’s whenever he can.
“We’re trying to hook him up with the defenders, specifically the full backs.
“It would be great for him to have a mentoring system with them and working with the young ones, Josh Bailey is a prime example for that.
“Spender knows the position and what a full-back thinks and can help him get used to playing in the first team regularly.”
TNS got a 0-0 draw in their first pre-season game away at Beech Grove on Saturday against Ellesmere Rangers.
For now, Limbrick is concentrating more on getting minutes into the player’s bodies rather than the outcome of the game.
Limbrick added; “All pre-season games are important no matter the level or standard you are playing against.
“We will be playing academy teams and first teams from Wales, England and Scotland.
“The results are not as important pre-season, it’s more about minutes in the players’ legs, time on the grass, and building those relationships with the players in the way we are trying to play this season.
“It is probably the first time that I have had a pre-season that has only been two weeks away, normally it is a bigger break.
“The players and staff enjoy the games the most, that’s for sure!”
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