By Kevin Redsull

Deal Town manager Derek Hares has warned his players to expect a tough time in pre-season training.

Mark Harrop, Deal’s new first-team coach, has told Hares that he intends to push the squad hard to ensure they are as fit as possible for the start of the Bulmers Cider Kent League season on Saturday, August 8.

Hares, pictured, said: "Myself and (assistant manager) Andy Bigginton had a meeting with Mark at the weekend and he said his first priority will be to really put the players through their paces in pre-season training.

"Mark also wants us to start training a little earlier than we had planned, so the squad will now report back for their first session in a fortnight’s time."

The Deal players and fans have also got several interesting pre-season friendlies to look forward to, including four matches against Ryman League clubs Cray Wanderers, Folkestone Invicta, Margate and Ramsgate.

Wanderers, who won promotion to the Ryman League, Premier Division by beating Metropolitan Police 1-0 in their Division 1 South play-off final last month, will be coming to the Charles Ground on Saturday, July 25.

Pre-season friendlies (all home): Sunday, July 12: Needham Market (noon); Saturday, July 18: Ramsgate (3pm); Tuesday, July 21: Whitstable (7.45pm); Saturday, July 25: Cray Wanderers (3pm); Tuesday, July 28: Folkestone (7.45pm); Saturday, August 1: Canterbury City (3pm); Tuesday, August 4: Margate (7.45pm).