12:10pm Thursday 25th June 2009
By Ian Whiting
Avenue boss Lee Sinnott will not be at the club’s first two training sessions because of a family holiday but knows there will be no slacking within the ranks.
Before leaving for his well-earned break, Sinnott told everyone to report back a week on Tuesday.
“I will miss that one and the following Thursday but that won’t be a problem,” he said.
Sinnott has been working around the clock arranging friendlies, discussing transfer business with his management team, formulating a budget with the Horsfall board and negotiating with players.
It has been a busy close-season for the club and, while they have drafted in goalkeeper Steve Dickinson and left back Martin Drury, they are still in the market for new faces and four more new signings are expected.
But the Avenue manager feels there is no rush as there are plenty of players looking for clubs at the moment.
Some have been released by lower Football League outfits and others from the two-tier Conference League as clubs at many levels tighten their belts and look to work with smaller squads.
“If anything develops there may be signings while I’m away,” said Sinnott.
“We all know which positions need strengthening and the type of player we are looking to recruit. If one, or more, becomes available while I’m on holiday, we will be in the bidding.
“The same goes for the training sessions. Just because I’m not here doesn’t mean everything won’t run as normal.
“All the pre-season work is planned out and we will get the right blend of fitness work, honing skills and playing time.
“Each topic in every session has been allotted a certain proportion of time because a framework is needed. The players expect that structure and need to plan for themselves around their day jobs.
“Pre-season is the optimum time to work on several areas. With non-league clubs, once you get into the league games it can be a case of playing Saturday and then midweek and having no time with the squad in between because the lads have to work as well.
“My assistant John Deacey, our first-team coach and goalkeeping coach Gary Stokes and myself will cover as many bases as we can throughout the pre-season campaign.
“We all know the benefits that will bring to the first month or so of the proper season.”
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