Keith Boanas’ Chatham Town Women end their campaign at home this Sunday and he has warned of a tough pre-season.

A difficult year in the Southern Premier Division has seen Chatham finish second bottom and facing life in the fourth tier of the women’s game next season after suffering relegation.

Their season ends on Sunday at the Bauvill Stadium when they play host to third-placed Rugby Borough.

Chatham will be looking to bounce straight back up next term and Boanas knows they have to get the foundations laid early.

He said: “A high percentage of the players have expressed a wish to stay on but all the names will go into the hat in pre-season, including those coming in.

“I will look at a squad size absolute max of 24 and the best 24, that will include looking at their character, personality and their fitness levels.

“Pre-season will be tough, there will be targets to hit, if players don’t achieve their targets in tests then I won’t sign them.

“Their pre-season was disrupted terribly last year, which has had a knock-on effect and we need to make sure this pre-season is at a professional level. As much as they are not professional, the expectation will be high. Some of the players have expressed the wish to have another training night, with more strength and conditioning work. Fitness levels for me are going to be paramount this year.

“I am not going to put up with players who aren’t at the right levels.

“Fitness makes your technique better, fitter players are technically better players, even if they are technically good, if their bodies are not in the right condition then they can’t execute things. That has caused us problems against certain teams at the higher level, against the likes of Portsmouth who got promoted and Ipswich Town.

“The ones up there have all got players who are doing extra training and are doing other things on the fitness side.”

Chats had last weekend off after a strong show against high-flying Hashtag United last time out, losing 1-0 with the goal coming from the penalty spot.