FOUR days before FC Halifax Town kick off their Unibond League Division One North campaign, boss Jim Vince has declared himself happy with pre-season.
The new Shay chief has had to deal with a truncated preparation but has built a squad he believes will be competitive.
"The squad is like a rough diamond at the moment," he said. "You can see the clarity but it still has rough edges and needs polishing.
"All of the pre-season objectives have been met and full credit should go to the players for their attitude.
"We have had to fast track them because of time and they have done everything we have asked of them.
"Things have taken shape very quickly."
Town's players have just a couple of training sessions ahead of Saturday's home opener against Bamber Bridge.
And Vince is still to reveal to his squad who will start at the weekend.
"The team on Saturday is likely to be different to the one that played at Ossett," said Vince.
"It will be the first time the 11 have played together, but it is something we have had to do.
"We have brought players in and released some of them.
"Perhaps some were surprised with the some of the ones we have allowed to go.
"They had done a good job while they were with us, but were just not good enough for me.
"We now have an 18-man squad and it is going to be competitive.
"There have been questions about our goalscoring, but that is not an issue for me.
"We have a hard core of good players and on paper we should be okay.
"But we cannot take anything for granted."
Vince is keeping an eye on a number of players who have picked up knocks in pre-season, but is hopeful to have most of the walking wounded, including Kris King, Neil Ross, Adam Morning and Junior Brown available to face Bamber Bridge.
- FC Halifax Town fans wishing to travel to the club's first competitive
away game at Trafford next Tuesday can book their places now by calling 07707 143094. The cost is £11 and transport leaves the Shay at 5pm.
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