Bristol City priority is fitness, says Keith Millen

Millen warned fans to expect no transfer news for some time

Bristol City aims to make sure players are fit and available at the start of the season, the club's assistant manager Keith Millen has said.

Millen told BBC Radio Bristol that new boss Steve Coppell's idea of pre-season differed from previous incumbents.

"He [Coppell] doesn't believe in killing them pre-season. The main thing is getting the players fit and ready for the season," Millen said.

Millen confirmed the club was still not looking at the transfer market.

"The World Cup is a distraction and there is not the money out there that we had in previous years, so clubs are being cautious in their spending.

With some nice fixtures coming up and with Steve and his CV coming in, it is an exciting time for the club

Keith Millen

"Steve wants to have a look at the squad a little more pre-season. He thinks there is a decent squad anyway and he wants to do some work with them before we do any business.

"Once people get back to work in pre-season, we will look at the squad and decide where we need new players and you'll see more activity then."

Millen added that despite continuing newspaper speculation about Premier League interest in striker Nicky Maynard, City have received no bids of any kind for any of their players.

"We're now focussing on the new season and with some nice fixtures coming up and with Steve and his CV coming in, it is an exciting time for the club."

City's friendlies begin with a three-match tour of Sweden starting on 13 July at Gothenburg.