Weaver takes pressure off squad

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver is refusing to put pressure on his squad as he prepares for the new season in Blue Square North.

It is his first managerial role and he has assembled a new squad mainly made up of young players.

"It's a massive challenge but I'm determined to meet it head on," he told BBC Radio York.

"The squad are full of endeavour and energy at the moment and can't wait to get started."

With a new young team Weaver doesn't want to make predictions about the season ahead.

"In terms of speaking out and saying we've got to get promotion straight away I don't want to say that and heap pressure on the lads by saying we're going to achieve this and that."

Weaver admitted deciding the first eleven was a tough job for their trip to Corby Town with not much to choose between any member of the team. However, he said all of his squad will be needed throughout the season.

It's all new and we hope it's going to gel sooner rather than later.

Town manager Simon Weaver

"We've got 20 lads which is quite a large squad but they're all hungry young men and they all want to achieve and be in the starting line up. Obviously that's impossible - you can only name 11.

"There will be some disappointed people but I'll be speaking to them all before the game, all the lads that haven't managed to get into the starting 11 to begin with just to make sure that they feel wanted and needed.

"It's a long season and I want to make sure that they do feel really wanted still.

"They've all got different talents and attributes and we need to tap into those attributes sooner rather than later.

"We'll set a collective goal between us. It's all new and we hope it's going to gel sooner rather than later."