Head Coach Simon Grayson is happy with the players that have been added to the squad so far this summer and feels the group is really starting to mix together.
The players and staff all started to return to the Fylde Coast this week as the pre-season schedule begins with fitness tests and ball work ahead of the fixtures that are just around the corner, with Radcliffe coming up first on Saturday 10 July.
The first team arrived back at Poolfoot on Wednesday after a decent amount of time off as they all looked refreshed and ready to go.
New signings in Tom Clarke, Max Clark, Brad Halliday, Ryan Edmondson, and Harry Wright all met up with the squad for the first time as well and the Head Coach was happy with how the squad all got along straight away.
Here’s what Simon had to say in an interview at Poolfoot Farm:
On the signings made so far…
“This is my group of players now this summer, of course, some players are still here from last year but, you want a certain type of player when you come in as you want to play a different style to the previous manager. I wanted four or five new faces in the building before we came back on Wednesday, and we’ve done that so far.
“There was a lot of players out of contract at the end of last season so I was able to look at the squad and keep whoever I wanted to keep, and some have moved on – all you can do is wish them well and everyone knows that it’s part of football.
“I’m pleased with the work that we’ve done so far because it has been a busy summer in terms of meetings, Zoom calls, and recruitment meetings. It ultimately doesn’t stop there as we are looking to add more as we speak.”
On the mixture of experience and youth…
“We felt that we had a young group left with Harrison Holgate, James Hill, and others but we also had players in their mid-20s who have got a lot of games under their belt so that counts for good experience.
“When I met Ryan [Edmondson] in the summer, I got a good feeling about him and he just wants to learn, as he has done over the last couple of years. He’s hungry and was desperate to come so all of those things ticked the boxes because if a player is desperate to come like he was, then that’s a good starting point.
“You can never have too many good types around the building, on the pitch, and in the dressing room and Tom Clarke certainly fitted into that category so we are delighted to have got him. I felt that it was great for Tom to come to our club as he will help to develop those who play in his position and those who may need a bit of guidance throughout the season.
“You throw Max Clark and Brad Halliday into the mix who have played a lot of football and are good types to have around so I’m pleased to have them all in the squad for the upcoming season.”
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