Courtney Hunter-Belford says he’s happy with how Hinckley AFC are shaping up after casting an eye over the first two training sessions of pre-season.
A little over six weeks since the League Cup final win at the Bescot Stadium, the joint-manager was back at Kirkby Road to watch over his side’s opening training sessions of the pre-season campaign.
He and Joe Conneely have four sessions to run the rule over the squad before the first of seven pre-season friendlies against Heather St John’s a week on Saturday.
And after the first pair of them, he reflected positively on the base he and Conneely are working from this season.
He said: “They’ve been really good. The thing with this time of year is that you’re six weeks away from start of the season. People still have holidays booked, so it can be a bit bitty.
“It’s difficult to get everyone at the same time so we had a couple of different faces from Saturday to Monday.
“But the sessions have been good. For us it’s about getting everyone back together and picking up where we finished off from last season.”
That includes a “good majority” of the squad from last term who have agreed to remain with the club, ahead of registration opening next week.
With Lewis Collins having joined Coleshill and Joe Obi retired, they are two confirmed departures and Hunter-Belford says one or two more are likely to follow.
But he’s delighted with the players retained and is progressing well with other new targets.
“Pre-season is always a difficult time. Joe has openly said he hates it and it’s not my favourite time either, it’s a rat race.
“But we’re working on a base of the majority of squad being here, and just trying to replace what’s left and improve.
“Players have verbally agreed but we can’t physically sign anyone until next week so we won’t announce them until then.
“There are some other exciting players we’re looking at, and we’re working to build a team to hit the ground running from the off.
“We said to the lads that we need to start seasons how we end them. That’s what has let us down for the last two seasons so we’re doing everything we can to prepare properly.”
He now goes by his new Hunter-Belford surname after getting married over the summer, and after a good break for his wedding and honeymoon is now raring to go again in the new season.
“I’m looking forward to getting back at it again and as soon as friendlies start coming around people start to peak their interest.
“If we can get our business done early, it means we can work on what we want in training and matches and hopefully hit the ground running.”
