We spoke to Callum Whelan this afternoon, ahead of tomorrow’s game at Motherwell.
Speaking to CUTV, he said: “Pre-season has been really good so far. We had a tough first week, with lots of good football stuff, and then there's been a few tough sessions on the track where we've had to get around each other and push each other in the runs. It's been a really positive week. It feels like a fresh start and a fresh vibe.
“Everything we’ve done so far has been really intense. It's been tough, but I think all the lads have admitted it's what we needed. We need to be ready, we need to be fit. We’ve done lots of ball stuff, everything that we enjoy doing. And like I said, there have been some difficult days where we've had to grind them out and stick together, so it's been really good.
“The new lads have been really good, they’ve all got to know the lads quickly, all made a big effort to get to know people, which I think is important. And we've all tried our best to make them feel welcome. I think it's easier in pre-season when you're all running and it's tiring and you've got no choice but to stick together.
“I think it's the hardest part pre-season, but I think it's the best time to come in, because before the games, you can get to know the lads and start to build relationships and connections that then hopefully go on to the pitch. It's the best time to come in and fit in.”
On the additions on the coaching side, he said: “Frankie has been brilliant, really good. Really good tactical stuff, some great sessions that the lads have enjoyed, because obviously you train more than you play, so training, if it's enjoyable, that's what we want.
“I have a few friends that have had Frankie in the past as well who all text me straight away saying really good and you'll enjoy working with him. So, yeah, it's been a great start.
“Gav is another great addition, I think it's nice to have someone who's been here and done it and can share his experiences with us. He obviously has what it takes and knows what it takes to win for this club. So I think it's important. And again, lads that have had Gav in the past have spoke really highly of him.
“We obviously have Dev and Glyn last year who were brilliant, but now I think the new guys will step in and we've got a nice core staff together.”
The midfielder arrived at Brunton Park from Gateshead, so has experience playing in the National League, we asked how that might help next season: “I’ll try my best to bring my knowledge and experience of the league. I'll try and set examples and train well and try and help as much as I can.
“I think all the lads understand how difficult it's going to be. There's no secret what the objective is. I think everyone wants to be successful and it's important that we are. There are some good team and some tough away grounds we have to visit, and also teams are going to come here and want to beat us in good atmospheres with our crowd and things like that. So yeah, it's going to be difficult but I feel like the lads know that.
“I think similarly to League Two, you'll get different styles. We'll play against teams that want to pass the ball, that want to play and we'll also play against teams that want to stick it in your box and make it difficult. So like any league, I think you've got to be prepared.
“There's some big teams and there's also some smaller clubs that are difficult grounds to go and play at, and we know it's not a case of we're just going to roll teams over, that's just not football. Everyone knows that but we also know what the expectation is at the club. We need to find the balance, we need to get the balance right.
“I think when teams come here, some teams will come here and embrace it. Last year, 10,000 fans, 8,000, whatever it is. Some teams will embrace that.
“We need to make sure that teams don't come here and enjoy it and have a nice time here. It needs to be horrible to come here and it needs to have the reputation of it's a real tough place to come.
“Teams are going to want to beat us and we've got to be ready in a humble way,f we need to work our socks off because the game is going to be difficult. We've got to enjoy the pressure. There's a pressure to win, definitely. We have to embrace that. The gaffer has obviously been a winner all his life. So he'll implement that. As a team, we've got to embrace the pressure of needing to win games and get into that mentality of a winning team.”
Ahead of the first pre-season friendly against Motherwell, he said: “It'll be tough for our first game. It's real good opposition. I think that's a positive though. There'll be obviously large spells maybe where they have the ball and we're chasing. And I think that can only be beneficial as we're only in week two of our pre-season.
“We're still trying to get fit and sharp again. So it'll be a tough one, but I think we'll get a lot out of it. There'll be tactical stuff that we're trying to implement ready for this season. I think games like this are about building connections, like the new lads coming in, the lads coming back from last year, we've all got a point to prove and we've all got to fight for our position in the team. We all want to play, but we've got to fight for that. We've got a really good squad.”
The National League fixtures will be released on Wednesday, Callum commented: “It’s exciting. You always look at the first one and the Christmas ones. I'd love a home game first, but if it was away, I wouldn't mind getting Truro out of the way while it's still sunny!
“That will be a long trip for the fans but we will never get bored of saying how good they are. I said it numerous times last year and it's just ridiculous, the support. It's amazing, and they'll really get behind us. So we have to give back as well. We need to win games and embrace the pressure because I think I said again last season, they deserve some good times and some success.
“It's a two-way thing. We can't take it for granted. We've got to enjoy it and there's not many words to describe it. It's unbelievable, they're unbelievable since I've been here and what I've heard in the past.
“The numbers are incredible and I know they will stick with us, get behind us and I know that me and the rest of the lads and staff will do absolutely everything to make it a successful season and put on good performances because they deserve to see us work our socks off.”
