Manager returns

31/ 7/2008

FC UNITED manager Karl Marginson has returned from his holidays raring to go for the new season.

Margy missed United’s pre-season defeats to Conference sides Kettering and Altrincham plus Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Tamworth.

But he was back on the sidelines for the friendly against Salford City, which was being played as the Advertiser went to press last night, Wednesday, July 30.

Margy said: "Pre-season is about blowing off the cobwebs and giving trials to some prospective new players so we have arranged our pre-season campaign a bit differently this year. Playing sides that are higher up the pyramid means we can really test the players on trial at the club.

"Teams such as Altrincham and Kettering are bound to have better quality players than we will face in the UniBond Premier next season but, with players on holiday and injuries to Jerome Wright and Rob Nugent, we have also been a little disjointed.

"Although we have lost three games so far I remain confident about our prospects this season.

"We’ve been doing a lot of work on fitness in our pre-season training and the lack of ball work at this early stage can sometimes be evident. However, we feel that the hard work done so far this summer will prove worthwhile as the season progresses.

"I’m very pleased with the new signings. Tunji Moses will add some bite to our midfield and Dave Neville will prove to be a big asset to the club while Carlos Rocca and Kyle Wilson are both quality players.

"James Brackenridge has done well and will have a part to play once his fitness has returned. He has not played for a year so he will need some time to get back into the swing of things again."