BRIDPORT manager Adam Fricker believes a more settled approach to pre-season this term will stand the Bees in good stead.

A year ago, the St Mary’s Field chief was almost building a side from scratch having replaced Trevor Senior in the hot seat.

Having secured a 16th-placed finish in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division in 2016-17, Fricker, who has added Paul Thorpe to his coaching staff for the upcoming campaign, is determined to improve.

“We feel a lot further down the line this year than we were last year,” he told Echosport ahead of the new campaign.

“A lot of last season was about looking at lads’ abilities and understanding what they were all about. This season we have already got that and we have been able to add two or three players into an already existing squad.

“I think pre-season this year has been more focused on having a smaller squad and giving the 15 or 16 we have valuable minutes, whereas last season we were looking at 19 or 20 players to see what everyone could do.

“It’s been a lot more settled and focused this year.”

The Bridport manager, who has been consistent in keeping a similar playing personnel to last season, will also be looking for a couple of youngsters in the squad to start leading the way.

He added: “Players that have looked very bright in pre-season are Kameron Andrews and Braeden Symes – younger lads in our squad who are really maturing and developing.

“Braeden has been with us for few a years now and every season he has added something different to his game.

“Kameron has a massive future in the game. He is a 17-year-old kid who his playing above his years. He has had a great pre-season and can be a big player for us.

“They are the two who can really look to kick on next season and go that next level higher.”