DANNY Greaves says that Bradford Town’s team’s pre-season has been designed to help them hit the ground running as there will be no room for error when his team kick-off the new season on Saturday.

Greaves is preparing to embark on his first spell in management at Trowbridge Road and his first game will be a crunch FA Cup extra preliminary round clash with Sydenhams League Fareham Town.

The former Bristol Manor Farm assistant has had to bring in a host of his own players to Bradford and with prize money and progress in the country’s top cup competition on the line from the very start, chief Greaves has his fingers crossed his troops are fully prepared.

“We gave the lads a really tough pre-season and it’s all been geared towards getting them ready for this first game,” said the Bradford boss.

“The FA Cup is massive for a club like Bradford, with the prize money that it brings in and everything else, so we’re going to have to be ready – it’s strange starting with such an important game.

“I’ve played against teams from their league in the past and we also know a little bit about Fareham, so hopefully, we’re prepared for it.

“Pre-season has gone well though. We’ve played six games and won five of them, and we’ve played three teams from a higher level.

“Seven of last year’s squad have stayed, so I’ve had to bring in a lot of players.

“I don’t think that it’s right to single anybody out but we’ve probably got 20 in the squad, which is a little on the large side but we’re going to have a lot of games.

“We also wanted to try and keep that connection with the supporters, so we’ve tried to bring in some local players, and just a few have come over from Bristol.”

Under former chief Paul Shanley, Bradford finished eighth in the Toolstation League Premier Division last term whilst Hampshire outfit Fareham were 12th in the top tier of the Sydenhams League.

Greaves’ side tackle their first league match when they go to Gillingham Town next Tuesday.