I BELIEVE Worcester City’s squad is stronger this year and we are ready to prove we can be a force in Blue Square South.

With the new season just days away, every manager is optimistic about their chances and expectations. Every-body is backing us to get relegated, based on last season, but that’s definitely not how the staff and players see it.

We want to have a good season and there’s no reason why we can’t do that if we can keep the squad together and everybody stays fit and free from suspension.

There has always got to be a favourite to win the league and those to be relegated and we are going to prove the bookies wrong, we have said that from the first day of pre-season. There can be no greater incentive than that.

We were there or thereabouts in the table by Dec-ember last year and then we fell away through budget cuts and losing players.

But this year we know what money we have to spend and if we can keep the same squad we will give it a right go. If the fans start coming back we might also get a bit of money to boost the squad.

I had confidence in my squad up until Christmas last year but this year everybody at the club is in agreement that we look a stronger outfit which is good.

It has been a massive transition from the end of last season because we have needed a new goalkeeper, defence and forwards.

We were never going to be installed as favourites to win the league but I don’t think anybody will relish playing us. We have definitely got value for money in the players we have signed with the likes of Wayne Daniel and Rob Elvins.

Our fighting spirit is second to none and the players want to win, even in five-a-side matches in training, and we are not going to roll over and throw games away.

The back-four want to win and if players are not doing their jobs up front or in midfield they will be told so, not just by myself or Carl Heeley but by some of the older professionals in the team.

The performance was below par against Hinckley but we were playing a side who will do well in Blue Square North next year and we got a draw with 10 men. However, it has been a decent pre-season with good games against Stafford and Kidderminster, as well as a good work-out against Hinckley.

I think that has put us in good stead for the campaign ahead, rather than playing the big hitters with their under 18s sides. It’s got us league-aware and we are ready for Bromley at St George’s Lane on Saturday.

Last season we defeated them twice but they have brought players in and their pre-season has gone well.

That said, we will set our stall out to attack them when we can and defend properly when we have to.