WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley said it was great to see his squad back after they returned to pre-season training at Blandford School on Saturday.
He also admitted it was a relief for his staff as well to see the off-season come to a close.
Molesley said: “It is great to see all of the boys back, we were obviously tested on Tuesday night with the AECC which was good so we have got a lot of data now
“I think the boys are pleased to get that first session out of the way because like I say it is a bit of a dreaded day for everyone first day back in pre-season.”
The squad took part in a variety of drills both on and off the ball as they looked to get ready ahead of their first pre-season friendly at home against Bournemouth Under-23s at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday (1pm).
Their first session, following the testing on Tuesday night, took part in scorching heat over at the school and Molesley was pleased with how they handled it.
Molesley said: “They battled the elements so I am really pleased with my first session the boys have done well, everyone has come through it and we move on to this week now.”
When asked if the ‘dreaded’ element of the first day back influenced his decision to include a lot of work on the ball Molesley said: “Don’t get me wrong they have got to get fit, we have got to run them, they have got to work hard and they have got to run hard.
“We hopefully design our sessions so that they run hard but they also need to be familiar with the football as well.
“Monotonous running you do not do that in football, all of the work we do we just try and make it as realistic we can as to how we are going to play.”
The pre-season represents Molesley’s second in charge of Weymouth and he is pleased with the difference compared to where they were a year ago.
Molesley said: “We are a lot further ahead than we were this time last pre-season, we literally started from scratch last year.
“We have got our methods, our way our philosophy embedded into the group, we are starting with the same group of players again which is great.”
