TERRAS’ player-manager Jason Matthews has underlined the need for his new-look squad to gel together quickly, as he prepares to put his side through their first pre-season training session this evening.

Weymouth will have a vastly different array of faces from the XI that completed last season’s Southern Premier League campaign at Chesham United in April, with the likes of new signings Shane Krac, Jamie Laird and veteran goal-poacher Tim Sills all set to feature in upcoming friendlies.

And the manager is chomping at the bit to embark on his first full term at the helm with his new troops.

“I am really looking forward to getting going now,” the Terras’ boss told Echosport. “We have done a lot of work over the summer to get things prepared and if I’m honest I didn’t realise how much work it would be.

“I feel very positive going into the new season and getting the new lads to gel together, that is one of the secrets and I will be doing my best to make the training hard but enjoyable for them.

“I did my homework on the new lads not only as players but as people and I am very pleased to have them coming in.”

No stone has been left unturned in Matt-hews’ preparations, and the Weymouth chief is striving to provide Terras’ fans with an attractive style of football to watch.

He added: “We have planned out all of our pre-season, I want to play good, positive, high-tempo football and it is up to us to implement that in the squad. I am under no illusions, I need to create a product that the fans will want to watch and get behind.

“Pre-season will be hard but fair and I will use a lot of stuff that I like as a player. Even if it is tough the lads will come out thinking they have had a good session.”

The Weymouth stopper, pictured, also indicated that he will be assessing a number of trialists, as well as giving all of his current group the chance to grab a place in the starting XI.

“I am very open minded, there is competition for places and that competition means that nobody can sit in their comfort zone and they have to do the business,” he claimed.

“Even from my own point of view there are a couple of goalkeepers coming in to push me from the playing side of things.

“We have about five or six trialists and we will take it from there.

“There is scope for one or two more players to bring the squad to the size I want it.

“The reserves also have a chance to push into my squad after they performed well last year.”