Manager Paul Jewell and assistant Chris Hutchings believe Bradford City will be as fit as they have ever been by the start of next season.

The Bantams squad return for pre-season training on Monday, June 29, as they prepare for the start of the 1998-99 campaign.

Hutchings says it is the earliest he can recall a squad starting pre-season work, and with the club also enjoying a hectic period of pre-season games he believes the benefits will be evident when the Nationwide League kicks off on August 8.

In contrast, rivals Leeds United will be back two weeks later on July 13. The Premiership starts on August 15.

He said: "The players are under instructions to ensure they take part in a few runs and do a lot of stretching exercises before we join up for pre-season. We don't want them coming back and suffering needless injuries. Keeping up your fitness level in the summer is the best way of preventing injuries.

"The game is a lot faster these days and you have to be a lot fitter. Players must realise they are professional and must look after their bodies. To be fair to the players, though, they are also a lot more responsible."

The first team squad will, for the first time, be spending four days at an Army camp in Chester to help build up their stamina, from Monday, July 6.

Hutchings says the players' timetable at the Army camp has just been finalised, and he has warned the squad that they face a tough time.

"We will have a week at the club before going to Chester and those two weeks will be very important. It will be very hard for them but there will also be some fun worked into it.

"We will then be back in Bradford to help build our fitness further. The pre-season games come thick and fast after that and they will prove invaluable for the squad.

"No matter how much work you do with aerobics and circuit work, there is no substitute for matches. Playing several games in a few days will give our players that vital match fitness that every footballer needs."

City's pre-season games start on Wednesday, July 15, at Farsley Celtic before they visit Hartlepool the following Saturday. The Bantams then face two home games with Preston (July 23) and Derby (July 25) before the visits to Rotherham (July 29) and Bradford Park Avenue (July 30).

City's preparations will be rounded off with the visit of newly promoted Halifax Town to Valley Parade on August 1.

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