Rob Smith: AFC Telford players will hate me!
Boss Rob Smith believes he will be 'hated' by his AFC Telford United players as he prepared to welcome his new-look squad back for a gruelling pre-season.
The Bucks boss, who will gather the squad at Wrekin College this evening, is promising his players a punishing 'old school' schedule.
It includes runs up the Wrekin, starting this Saturday, after two sessions – tonight and Thursday – 'on the flat.'
Smith said: "We'll take a leaf out of Leicester's book and we'll be a very hard-working team – more hard working than any team I've ever had before.
"I've never been as determined to get a team as fit as they can possibly be. They're going to hate me but I hope by the end of the season they'll like me, because they will reap the rewards.
"I'm going to be Public Enemy No 1. I'm 'old school' and they will cover a lot of miles. It's all about getting miles in the tank.
"We've got five sessions and then we've got the games and those five sessions are going to be hard. But the rewards will be there for them, if they do the work.
"I was the worst in the world when it came to moaning about pre-season but the fitter I was, the better I was.
"But they're a good bunch and I expect they would have kept themselves in good shape and I think the majority will embrace it."
Midfielder Lee Fowler is to continue full-time training at Wrexham either side of his workouts with Telford.
Smith said: "He's one of those that we need to carry on in full-time training and he'll do as much or as little as he needs.
"I'd imagine he'll train three times a week there and not on the days when he trains with us.
"He's going to be a massive player for us and he's determined to get as fit as he can."
Meanwhile, Smith will also run the rule over two centre-backs as he looks to replace Curtis Tilt.
He said: "There's nothing happening on the centre-half apart from the fact we'll be looking at a couple of trialists.
"As regards a winger, we've got a couple of trialists in the pipeline who are coming in tonight."
Smith still expects transfer target Elliott Durrell to sign for Chester, adding: "He hasn't signed for Chester, not that I've heard, but nothing has changed.
"I presume he will do in the next day or so."
