Chester FC manager Steve Burr has revealed this pre-season will be ‘more intense’ than 12 months ago.

Although there won’t be a dramatic change in terms of the approach, the experienced boss believes there are things that can be bettered from last summer.

Chester made a disappointing start to the 2014-15 season, collecting just four points from a possible 18 during the month of August to leave them in the division’s lower reaches.

Performances and results improved through the campaign but the final position of 12th could have been much higher had the Blues not lost six times in the first nine games.

A near-total rebuild of the squad did not help matters but there will be no such problems this time around with Chester retaining the core of last season’s side and making six exciting new additions.

Summer recruits Ian Sharps, Johnny Hunt, Jordan Chapell, Luke George, Ross Hannah and Tom Shaw will link up with the rest of the squad at the headquarters of main club sponsors MBNA on Chester Business Park and the manager is keen to get down to work.

Burr explained: “It will be similar to last pre-season but what we will doing is making it more intense. I think there were things we could have done a bit more on last year and that’s part of learning but there won’t be too much difference.

“I thought we were a fit bunch last season but I always think players can be fitter and that’s something we will be working on. We will be knocking it up a notch.”

IN PICTURES: Chester FC pre-season training in summer 2014

Supporters are approaching the 2015-16 campaign with cautious optimism given the standard of the six new signings after what had been a quiet and at times frustrating start to the close-season.

Burr, who plans to have a close look at a number of trialists over the next few weeks, wants to add a back-up keeper to his squad and remains on the hunt for another forward and is keeping watch on the status of Oliver McBurnie, so impressive last term on loan from Bradford City.

That would enable the manager, who operated with three in midfield for most of last season, the option of fielding two strikers up front as he prefers to do.

“I’ve always preferred my teams to play 4-4-2 with two wingers but sometimes the squad you have dictates the shape that you can play to get the best out of what you have.

“Last year we found that having the three behind a striker got us the best results but I do like playing with two strikers and that’s really the way I want us to play. But we are open to things and it might be that we’ll hit on a formula in pre-season that works better for us.”

IN PICTURES: The Blues training base at MBNA headquarters

Chester have organised seven pre-season fixtures, starting with the visit of League One side Oldham Athletic on Saturday (3pm).

Rochdale make the trip to the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm) before the Blues head to Trafford on Saturday (3pm).