No stone is being left unturned to ensure Chester FC's preparations for the forthcoming season are spot on.
The players are due to report for pre-season training in a little over three weeks but the hard work has already started for coach Jon McCarthy, who is finalising venues, drawing up session plans and compiling dossiers on the other clubs.
Chester will again be using the ‘Field of Dreams’ facility at the headquarters of main sponsors MBNA but are also close to securing additional facilities.
McCarthy explained: "It’s about us having the best facilities that we can and we’ve got some exciting things planned that will include our academy too. The facilities available to us are first-class and that’s a big advantage.
"The gaffer has indicated what he wants in pre-season so my role now is to put some detail into that.
"We were happy with how pre-season went last year even though the start we had wasn’t great but we knew we had some tough fixtures."
First-team coach McCarthy thinks the planned friendlies, which include League One sides Oldham Athletic and Rochdale, will help make sure the team are primed for the start of the season.
"I’ve always thought you are better off with harder games because you can make the mistake of thinking you need to win every game in pre-season," said McCarthy, who joined the club in January 2014.
"We’ve got one more lined up with a Football League club that will be announced soon and we can learn a lot from those games."
McCarthy revealed he has been keeping track of the comings and goings in the National League this summer as he gathers information on what the Blues can expect from each club with input from boss Steve Burr and scout Andy Fearn, who was part of the manager's backroom team at Kidderminster Harriers.
"The gaffer knows pretty much every player in this division and Andy helps us out a lot with that too," said the former Northern Ireland winger, who played under Burr at Hucknall Town and Northwich Victoria.
"It’s part of the planning from my side and I’ve started compiling squad lists so I know what each club has got and who plays where.
"Once we start pre-season, I’ve got five weeks to build that up and although the next game is always the main focus, it’s a bit like snooker in that you want to be thinking three shots ahead.
"I like to have that kind of knowledge so if one of the lads asks me about a certain team or player, I can give them an informed answer.
"I might not be right but I’m a believer that if you put the hard work in that you’ll ultimately get your rewards."
