CHICKERELL United manager Shaun Murphy praised the showing from his players in training so far as they look ahead to their Dorset Senior League season.

The Chickens finished runners-up last year, after a title race that went right down to the wire with Corfe Castle winning out late on.

Murphy said: “It has been very high spirited, the effort in training has been phenomenal. You can see they all know they have to be playing for places and are all hungry.”

Murphy also praised his squad for how they looked after themselves during the break.

Murphy said: “I am very pleased if I am honest. There are lots of good efforts, the lads have kept in quite good shape over the summer without any football so I am really impressed so far.”

There are few changes in personnel for the Chickens ahead of the season – Adam Stewart will be unable to fully commit this season while Steve Welch is likely to miss the start of the season due to getting married.

However, the Chickens have brought back Dan Welch from Balti Sports while everyone else from last season has stayed.

Josh Why will be helping the third-team manager Dee Hope out, while Ian Heggie has taken over as manager of the reserves side.

Murphy said: “Everyone is really keen to get going really.”

“We would love to go one better and actually win the league, it near enough came down to the last game of the season.

“The top three is definitely the aim but to actually push it one step further and win it would be the real aim I think.”