DORCHESTER Town have invested heavily in analytical devices as intensive pre-season efforts begin ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

GPS belts have been purchased for the players, designed to measure and record a range of statistics.

These include top speeds, total distance covered, stress loads, heart rate, sprints and decelerations among others.

Three sessions have already been staged by the Magpies, with fitness testing conducted on the club’s players.

Dorchester have made nine signings already and are in talks with two midfielders over a potential move.

The Magpies are building up towards their first pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 10 at home to Wessex League side Hamworthy United.

Speaking to Echosport, boss Robbie Herrera said: “We’ve trained Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning so we’ve had three good days so far.

“It’s shaping up nicely, I had a couple of extra bodies in, which was nice.

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“Hopefully all things being well, those two bodies will sign on the dotted line.

“They’ve done some fitness work and everyone’s come back looking in decent shape.

“First and foremost, that’s the pleasing thing. We need to be fit to play at this level.”

On the GPS belts, Herrera added: “It’s something Scott (Symes, chairman) was keen to do, not just for the first team but the 23s, 18s, right the way through.

“For the boys it’s going to be a good tool and something that gives us a little more understanding on where we are in terms of how players are getting on, whether they’re fatigued.”

Dorchester have also invested in a Veo camera, designed to track players movements and record matches or sessions for analysis.