WORCESTER City manager John Barton has declared himself delighted with the list of programme of pre-season friendlies that the club has arranged.

City begin their home friendlies against First Division Coventry City on Wednesday (7.45), with West Bromwich Albion, Queen's Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers to visit St George's Lane in the coming weeks.

With a sprinkling of away games as well, including today's clash with Belgian top-flight side KSK Beveren, Barton is pleased with the mix of games as his side builds up to the big kick-off in the Dr Martens Premier Division on August 16.

Barton said: "We have to address the balancing act between trying to generate some income from attractive opposition, and also give you the real focus which is preparing for August 16.

"And as much as we throw invitations out to reputable clubs like we have done, and we are grateful to those clubs that have accepted, we also get the same thing from clubs that are below us in the pyramid structure, and we try to oblige by accepting as many of those as we can.

"I think we've ended up with a very good mix of games this season."

The visit of Gary McAllister's Coventry side on Wednesday will have extra significance as it will mark the first appearance in a City shirt of new striker Leon Kelly, signed for a four-figure sum from Ilkeston Town this week.

Goalkeeper Danny McDonnell and midfielder Darren Middleton should also feature for the first time after missing the first two friendlies due to holidays.

Barton will be particularly looking forward to meeting up again with Coventry's first-team coach Gary Mills, who was a former team-mate of his at Derby County and a former managerial opponent during Mills' spells in charge at Tamworth and King's Lynn.

The Wolves game on August 4 throws up even more connections for Barton, with manager Dave Jones a former Everton team-mate and chief scout George Foster a playing colleague at Derby.

City are particularly relishing the Wolves clash as the Molineux club have regularly visited St George's Lane in pre-season in recent years, and usually draw the biggest crowd.

There will be the added attraction this year of Wolves being a Premiership side following their victory in the First Division play-off final.

Barton said: "We have had a really good relationship with Wolves since Dave Jones and George Foster have been at the club, and any requests we have made have been met with full support by them.

"From their point of view, it is one of the friendlies in terms of non-league clubs that they look forward to, which generally attracts a good crowd and they know that they will be playing on a good surface."

City fans still have the chance to buy a single ticket which covers entry to all four of the home friendlies -- they also entertain Queen's Park Rangers on July 28 and West Bromwich Albion on July 30.

It costs £24 for adults, £15 for senior citizens and £10 for children under 16. Call the club on 01905-23003.

City still have spaces on their Summer Soccer School for children beginning on Monday, July 28.

The week-long course involves four days of coaching and a trip to Manchester United's Old Trafford ground, and is open to boys and girls aged 5-15.

For more details on this and other courses being run during the summer, contact Claire Maslen on 07766-002685.