Myers wants Spartans potential realised

After taking his first training session new Spartans Assistant Manager Colin Myers revealed that his key challenge this season was to help Manager Tom Wade tap into the "absolutely fantastic" potential he feels the club has. However he was keen to stress that to realise that potential may take time and hard work. The former Bishop Auckland manager joined Spartans two weeks ago and is looking forward to helping the club move forward.

"The potential at Blyth Spartans is absolutely fantastic and we have to realise that. For me personally I am coming to a great non league club that has had a bad time over the last few years and it's going to take hard work to help Tom(Wade) turn it around and get it on a more positive footing. I am certain we can do that and while it might not happen over night I can certainly see this squad moving on and improving throughout the season."

Myers was delighted with the reaction of the players after they returned to pre-season training in a mainly fitness focussed session on Saturday morning. In the unexpected warm Northumberland sunshine Myers oversaw the session alongside Wade and Goalkeeping Coach Carl King and feels that fitness will be key if his side are to be successful in improving on last season's somewhat inconsistent form.

"It's been an enjoyable session and it was nice to have the sun out for a change. The lads were excellent and came in with a really professional attitude which was great. We are all really looking forward to getting into the nitty gritty of pre-season now. We expect these players to be at a certain level of fitness. They did base tests at the end of last season and we return to that on Monday to see where they are at. There will be times when we will come back to the fitness testing and if they don't hit the levels we expect then we will do something about it."

Wade and Myers have been working hard to freshen up their squad ahead of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign and Myers revealed that they are looking at a number of potential recruits although for obvious reasons was keen to keep his cards close to his chest. The additions of North Shields duo Dean Holmes and Rob Nolan along with midfielder Matthew Wade have added a youthful injection to the Spartans squad and Myers stressed that he wants to see the more experienced members of the playing staff help them develop throughout the season.

"There are a couple of lads we have got our eyes on but obviously at the moment we can't name names. We are working with them and there are a number of very very good young footballers coming into the club. Experience will be massive for us and the likes of Robbie Dale, Neal Hooks and Joe Kendrick will be huge for us this season. If things don't go well you look to them to rally the troops and get us through it so they will have a massive role."