GILLINGHAM players will embark on a programme of intense fitness training this week as boss Neale Cooper prepares his side for the coming season.

The players face their first full week back after their summer holidays, with Cooper keen to see his team do the job with a smile on their faces.

He said: "I want them to be working in a nice environment and for them to be happy in their work and that’s what I’m looking for."

Cooper had his first team meeting on Thursday and was encouraged by the attitude already shown by the players.

He said: "I had a brief word with them before we went down to the training ground up in the players’ lounge – nothing heavy – saying I was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I saw some spirit there and that’s what I’d been told it was like here."

The players however shouldn’t be getting too relaxed, as the boss has planned a tough week for them.

Cooper said: "Another full week has been planned for fitness. And then the following week we will get the footballs out.

"Gone are the days where you used to get dropped in the middle of the country and they get you to run back to the stadium. A lot of work has been put into it these days at looking at mobility and power runs."

Cooper added: "I work a lot on two-touch in training, I like a team that presses and keeps possession of the ball. And to do all of those jobs you have to be a fit side."

The Gills boss has already indicated his desire to bring in trialists during pre-season – but not just yet.

"I don’t want to bring people in on trial just to do some running," he said.

Meanwhile, Gills will host Oxford in the first round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday, August 23.

The kick-off for Gills’ clash with Hartlepool on October 8 at Victoria Park has been brought forward to 12 noon to avoid clashing with England’s match against Austria.