Avenue are praying that work undertaken on the playing surface at Horsfall Stadium will not interfere with pre-season planning.

Chief executive Bob Blackburn said: "The pitch improvement work has been going on for a few weeks now and is one of the things that needs to go well.

"We have to hope we get the weather that will bring the grass up at the perfect time.

"When you have done drainage work, top soil and re-seeding, it's in the lap of the Gods if everything comes together.

"Our manager Benny Phillips is working on signing players of the quality that will produce their top form on the best surface.

"It is our intention to make Horsfall Stadium a fortress and to do that we have to make our players feel comfortable at home.

"If we create the right environment the players and management will have the best possible chance to win promotion."

Assistant-boss Lee Coathup has been instrumental in setting up a pre-season game at Bangor in what will be Avenue's centenary season.

He said: "Benny and the rest of us wanted to arrange an away game that we could use as an overnight stay for a bit of a bonding session.

"Having done three years at Rhyl as a player coach I know all about Bangor. I spoke to their management team and the stay-over was arranged. It will tell us a lot about what type of character we have in our squad and also break down a few barriers."

A game at home to new SPL outfit Gretna, who were Avenue's UniBond Division One rivals six years ago, kicks off Avenue's pre-season which also includes games against Huddersfield Town and Halifax Town.

Meanwhile, Blackburn has been continuing to drum up new sponsorship for the club.

There will be a new name on the front of the home team shirts for the coming season but last term's backers will still be involved.

He said: "The launch of the new home and away colours, with the sponsors' names on them, is under wraps at the moment but I want our supporters to be assured that lots of work is going on behind the scenes.

"There are a lot of people still plugging away with sponsorship. After all, it all adds up at the end of the day."