Boss Rob Smith has pledged to work his squad harder than ever as AFC Telford United get ready to report back for pre-season training tomorrow, writes CHRIS HUDSON.

Smith and assistant Larry Chambers are notorious hard task-masters at this time of year, with preparations including gruelling hill runs up the side of the Wrekin.

But the Bucks boss has warned that he will be more demanding than ever this year as Telford look to make it third time lucky in their bid to win promotion from the Blue Square North.

“This is probably going to be the hardest pre-season we’ve ever had,” said Smith.

“We generally get off to a good start and we don’t want this year to be any different.

“I don’t think I’ve ever lost a first game of the season and I don’t want to start now.

“We pride ourselves on the level of fitness in our teams and we want to be as fit as ever this year.

“There will be two weeks of real hard graft and then it’s into the games (the first friendly is at Market Drayton on July 11).”

Smith will have a 17-man squad assembled for training tomorrow – including new signings Steve Torpey, Rhys Meynell and Matt Nolan.

That number will be boosted by trialist Tom Field, and Smith may move quickly to make the youngster his fourth summer recruit.

Field began his career as an apprentice at Everton and has also been on the books of TNS. He spent last season with Vauxhall Motors.

“We’ll have a chat with him tomorrow and, if we sign him, I think that will have eaten up all of our budget,” said Smith.

“He’s a young kid with a bright future ahead of him and he’s a quality footballer.

“Quite a few clubs are sniffing around him, so if we can do something then we probably will.

“He scores goals, he’s a very creative player, and I think the fans would appreciate him.”