The work for next year has already started with the first trial having taken place last night (Wednesday) and McGrath states that he hopes to unearth a number of new players to add to last year’s squad. All of last year’s backroom team have been retained for the new season and McGrath is keen to add to that.
“The people who were there last season will be here this season and we are hopeful of adding certainly one member to our backroom staff and we would like to think that by the weekend we will be able to make an announcement in that regard. There will also be another person coming in on the sports science end of things who would not be a selector but would be contributing to the physical preparation of the team,” commented McGrath.
The trials commenced last night but McGrath acknowledges that he is unlikely to have those players taking part whose clubs are still involved in their respective championships.
“The players who are still involved in championship, I can understand clubs not wanting them to take part in trials and I have no issue with that. We will have the chance to see them playing with their clubs anyway and it is good to see them in that competitive championship environment as it’s probably a better barometer but it is only fair to clubs that a trial system is also in place for those who might slip through the net,” he commented.
And McGrath is hopeful that a number of players will catch the eye as he looks to freshen up the squad.
“Hopefully we can come up with five, six or seven players to add to the existing squad, that’s the whole purpose of them really.”
Indeed, the Fermanagh manager is looking to have his squad in place by the middle of next month so that they can start working on a strength and conditioning programme.
“It is our intention to have trials over the next couple of weeks and we are targeting for the middle of September to have the squad finalised. We will then meet with them and put forward the programme and get strenGth and conditioning formally up and running by the start of October. We can’t do any pitch sessions until the middle of November but if we have five or six weeks of strength and conditioning and maybe players doing their own individual running sessions, by the time we come to meet on the pitch in the middle of November they will be in pretty good condition and that will enable us to get off to a good start on the pitch,” he added.
Last year McGrath was not appointed until late in the year and he feels that they are in a much better place now that he not only has a year under his belt but also will be able to complete a full pre-season programme.
“I already have had a season with the players so I am much more knowledgeable of them and what they are capable of doing and what makes them tick which I think that is a major plus. Also this year we have the proper time to do a good pre-season and plenty of strength and conditioning. As I said, we are hoping to have more trials over the next couple of weeks and we’ve looked at a number of championship matches so overall I think we are in a much better place in terms of preparation and having a handle on players and hopefully getting the campaign off to a good solid start in terms of all those things,” he said.
By admin Tue 26th Aug
