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Canterbury City boss Clive Cook insists the mentality of his players will be pivotal as they look to make their mark in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.
A busy summer of transfer activity saw Cook bolster his squad with experience from higher leagues, drawing on his previous ties to Hythe Town.
Focusing on the task at hand rather than past success promises to be a key message throughout the season.
City are away to AFC Croydon Athletic on Saturday and Cook said: “When you meet up you talk about pluses but you have to keep working away at those minuses.
“I feel they (the players) are taking it on board, (head coach) John Ovard is doing an absolutely superb job.
“Most of these boys have played at a higher level so their attitude has got to be, ‘these are the 11 players in front of us and this is who we’ve got to beat’.
“We can’t think of where we’ve been and what we’ve done, we’ve got to think about where we’re at now and what we’re going to achieve.”
Cook has also been encouraged by the depth he boasts on the sidelines, including Kudo Muchinjiko and Luwayne Greenwood, who signed after trial periods in July.
He added: “We’ve got a very good squad and whatever changes we make we can make them now to impact the game.
“There’s nothing more frustrating than looking round and not being able to change the game, but we’ve got the personnel to do that now.
“When I’ve got somebody away I try to alternate them (Muchinjiko and Greenwood).
“It’s just about them being part of it and feeling important. They’re really good lads.
“It shows the spirit in the squad with two boys who are travelling to games and just want to be involved in what we’re doing. I’ve got massive respect for those two boys.
“We’re starting to get a few headaches, I’m still talking to one or two players to strengthen.
“It’s a long old winter, as soon as you get August out the way you start going into autumn and the colder nights and that’s when you pick up a few injuries. We need to be strong.
“You can’t stay still in this league, you’ve got to be busy with what you’re doing with your squad.
City, who host Chatham on Wednesday, have doubts over Callum Emptage as the captain continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
