REDDITCH United's preparations for the new Dr Martens Western Division season get underway on Tuesday with the start of pre-season training.

And manager Rob Smith is warning the players, new and old, to be ready for a tough time as he looks to mould them together for the big kick off on August 19.

Smith said: "It's going to be hard work. Last season was one of the toughest pre-season training sessions I'd been involved in and this one is going to be harder still.

"It's important to get the fitness right and the players as one unit.

"We will see the players 20 times before the start of the season and it is important to make the most of the times they are with us."

The 20 sessions include eight pre-season friendlies, with two more having been added to the list.

These are against Stourbridge at Valley Stadium on Tuesday, July 25, and Baldock Town of the Eastern Division on Sunday, August 6.

Ruled out of these games and the entire build-up is new recruit Mark Swann, who has undergone an operation to resolve a long-standing Achilles problem.

It is expected the former Sutton Coldfield Town midfielder will be out until September.

Smith said it was a setback but something he was aware of when he signed Swann.

He said: "I thought it maybe a risk when we signed him but I was prepared to take that gamble.

"He has had the operation and we should see him back not long after the start of the season."

Meanwhile, Smith said the arrival of Ronnie Walker from Stafford Rangers was looking bleak.

Neither he nor assistant Larry Chambers has heard from the midfielder and Smith said he was unlikely to follow it up.

He said: "We would be a bit overloaded with midfielders if Ronnie joined but we haven't totally ruled him out.

"But we want to keep a bit of money in the kitty to make other signings, should the need arise."