PRE-SEASON training gets underway at Kidderminster Harriers Football Club this morning and boss Mark Yates can't wait to get going.
Contract players, those soon to be contract players as well as players due to start trials at Aggborough will report for the first session of the season later today - safe to say, it's been a long wait.
"I'm looking forward to seeing some of the boys back, as well as seeing a few lads who we've asked to come down so we can have a look at," Yates told harriers.co.uk.
"I can't wait - it's been quite a few weeks now and I for one am certainly looking forward to getting back out there and getting pre-season underway."
Dean Coleman, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Russell Penn, Darryl Knights and Lee Baker are those locked on contract for next term - but that number is expected to swell within days.
Yates is a signature away from confirming deals for a number of other players - several faces familiar to Aggborough, whilst some are not.
But as ever with the club, every base will be covered before any acquisition is confirmed here on the official website.
Yates added: "We're sorted with three or four others at the moment - possibly even more; some of the lads from last season who we've offered contracts two as well as a couple of others from outside the football club who we're trying to tie something up with by the end of the week.
"But, as you'll have seen from another club in our division this week already - you know what I'm like. That's a clear case of not crossing T's and dotting I's and waiting until everything is done and it's pretty poor.
"So we try and do things properly, as and when they're done. There's been a lot of speculation - people have phone me up and asked are we doing this and that. We're trying to do a lot of things, bring in the best possible players we can for the club but that's taking a bit of time."
The boys won't be hammered into the ground early doors with boots and balls now back in action - the gaffer plans to ease the players into their schedule before kicking up the pace in the not too distant future.
"The first day is quite steady, Neil and I will break the boys in and it won't be anything too scientific just yet - just a general ease-in where we have a look at their general fitness," he added.
"The usual banter will be flying about and it'll just be a good, steady session before we start doing more on Thursday and Friday."
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