Manager Greg Abbott spoke to us on Tuesday evening as the pre-season training camp in Leicestershire approached its half way point.
He said: "The facilities here are excellent and everything is going exactly as we wanted it to so far.
"The lads have come here with the right attitude and with a determination just to get on with things, so the training sessions have been tough but enjoyable for everyone.
"We've moved things on a little bit in terms of fitness work but we've also started to look at the more technical areas of the game, with shape and possession work, and it's starting to come together on the training pitch. We're still doing our main fitness work together, but the keepers are now getting time to concentrate on their skills as myself and my assistant (Graham Kavanagh) work on defensive areas, passing and finishing with the rest of the group.
"I think the idea of coming away is a good one. It gives us a chance to put ourselves in a different setting and really get to know each other. That process of bonding, for want of a better way of describing it, could stand us in good stead later in the season if we find ourselves in a difficult patch. With the lads getting to know each other like this, I think it will make it more likely that they will pull together once things get underway.
"Things are quite strict, with no face-to-face contact with family or friends, but the lads have accepted that. They know why we do this kind of thing, and they know when they can be laughing and joking and when it's time to knuckle down and work. We have had a couple of long days but I think, with the way that we are structuring the sessions, it is time well spent in terms of fitness and endurance for what is a tough season ahead.
"We've almost cut ourselves off completely so that we can concentrate on what we want to do but, again, I think it's the only way to do something like this properly. I know that can be frustrating for the press, but we know from what we've done in the past that this is the only opportunity we will get this season to conduct our business away from outside issues.
"On site here we have our own full size pitch to train on, and that is in excellent condition. We also have full access to all of the health and leisure facilities, so we are able to warm down in the swimming pool, for example, after a particularly hard day. Again, that kind of thing really helps us with how we can put our day together.
"I've mentioned the attitude of the players, but I would also like to make a comment about my backroom staff. Absolutely nothing has gone wrong, and that's down to the way my staff have organised everything, and to the amount of work that is going into this week to make it happen. The coaches and support staff have gone the extra mile and I know that will make a difference in the long run, as well as for what we are trying to do with our week right now.
"The new lads have all really started to get into the swing of things. They have settled well, as we knew they would, and hopefully the positive attitude that is around the place at the moment will stand us in good stead.
"It's difficult for players who don't have a contract to come to something like this, but Francoise (Zoko) and Kevin (Long) have both shown that they also have excellent attitudes. We want them to give us something to think about and, at the moment, they are both doing that.
"We have two days of full training to go before we round off the week with a friendly in Darlington. We feel that a competitive game is the right way to close something like this off, and it's a game where we can once again work on shape and match fitness. Like I say, there's plenty more work to be done between now and then though, so we'll focus on that before we start to think too much about Friday's game."
