WEYMOUTH boss David Oldfield admitted he is simply looking forward to returning to on-field action tomorrow at Portland United (3pm) after a turbulent summer.

So far, 14 players have been allowed to leave the Terras as Oldfield’s huge rebuild continues.

Six players have committed for the 2022/23 campaign: Luke Nippard, Cameron Murray, Tom Bearwish, Tom Blair, Ahkeem Rose and Xander McBurnie.

And Weymouth’s first pre-season game of the summer should provide fans with more answers as to how the side will shape up against Tonbridge on August 6.

READ MORE: Weymouth sign Cameron Murray and Luke Nippard

Oldfield told Echosport: “It’s great to play Portland, they’re a very important football club.

“For us, it’s our first game. We’re just looking to try and get through the game safely, certainly get our fitness work done and just get back to the opportunity of playing again.

“The players that left didn’t want to be here. It’s the club’s decision and my decision. The club have supported me on that.

“We’re recruiting slowly and we will get to a competitive team. We’re in a genuine rebuild situation.

“We competed last season at time but certainly were not able to compete for long enough at the level that would enable us to win any matches.

“The fans, I’m sure have been looking at the players leaving. I’m hoping we can bring players in who will enable us to be competitive this year.

“The Portland game is the start of the process, so I’ll be taking a straightforward manager line on pre-season games. It’s certainly for fitness and preparation.

“We’ve got some good games against local teams that we know is going to be a tough test for us.”

Meanwhile, Portland United are also facing up to their first pre-season match of the summer.

Joint-bosses Franklyn Clarke and Sam Poole have signed 16 players in the close season and the former is itching to get started.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Clarke told Echosport.

“It’s nice for two local teams to be coming together in pre-season. We appreciate Weymouth coming over to Portland and playing us.

“For the lads, this is a really good test to measure themselves against players playing three leagues higher.

“It’s a good opportunity for them to see where they’re at and the level they need to get to if they want to be at a higher level.”

Clarke added: “They’ve had two sessions, they’ve come back fit, so this game’s about getting the match fitness, minutes in the legs.

“Saying that, we want to be brave on the ball and we have a few different things we want to work on as well both in and out of possession.

“We’re not expecting too much with it being the first pre-season game back, but it’s a local game and the lads will want to do well and impress. That’s just natural. It should be an exciting game.”

Neither side has injury concerns for the contest.

Weymouth have arranged a fifth pre-season friendly at Bridport on Tuesday (7.30pm).