New Canterbury Ladies coach Ian Jennings believes his charges will be fitter than ever ahead of the opening Slazenger Women’s Premier Division game of the season against Leicester at Polo Farm on Saturday.

The former Guildford coach is back in charge of the Surrey club’s men’s team, having left them three years ago to coach in Australia, and will combine that role with his job at Polo Farm.

He has also acted as consultant to the South African women’s squad, and was shortlisted for the jobs of coach to the New Zealand men’s and women’s squad earlier this year.

He said: “The girls have found things fairly tough in the two months we have been together.

“I have asked some strong questions of them, which have all been answered, and I think we have a squad of players who believe in what they are doing.

“They have taken on individual responsibilities as well, and been a pleasure to coach.

Response

“I think it’s never worth doing unless it’s a challenge, and with me there are no half measures.

“ I asked the girls to buy into it or decide not to play, and I have been very pleased with their response. I hope it will blossom into a very fruitful partnership.”

Among the new recruits this season are Scotland and GB keeper Abi Walker, England Under-21 international Jenny Hall and University of Kent student Sophie Kesterton, who have arrived from Ipswich, while German Under-21 Lisa Hapke has moved from Berliner HC.

Lucy Barnes is back, but Jo Bryant and Sarah Kerly have gone travelling, Helen Grant has retired, keeper Becky Duggan has joined Trojans, Georgie Kemsley and Lucy Stewart are studying at Loughborough and Hayley Brown has joined Barcelona for the first half of the season.