Manager Micky Adams has spoken of the importance of his emphasis on fitness after the players returned to pre-season training, and hopes the supporters realise that the only time results will mean anything is once the season is underway in August.
He said: "You have to be open and honest with players and let them know that if they come to a football club that I manage, then we have got a strong work ethic and in many respects, this time of year it is one of the most important times individually for players.
"In many respects they are self-employed and they have to get themselves as fit as they possibly can. Their mate next to them is not going to help them through it and there is not a magic pill we can give a player to get him fit. There are no short cuts - you have got to do a lot of leg work.
"For managers and coaches it is an important time of year - this is where we earn our corn. We have got to make sure they are physically and mentally right for the new season, and organised, and that takes a lot of work on the training ground.
"All the boys are looking fit, but we have got to get them ready for August 7th when the season kicks in.
"We will gradually build up their fitness and we will obviously build up the amount of work they do with the ball and the pattern of play - a lot of thought goes into the programme for the next five or six weeks.
"We are doing two sessions a day and the players will go into the start of the season feeling a little tired. The players will understand that, but the fans won't necessarily understand that because one or two of the teams may be a little bit fresher. But they won't be doing the legwork that we are doing.
"I am talking about the non-league teams we play, and whilst we don't want to embarrass ourselves in terms of losing games against these teams, it can happen and it will be understandable because they will be doing a lot of physical work and will feel really heavy-legged.
"As we get towards August the 7th and Bury, we will taper down the work and get them as sharp as we possibly can."
