THE BOYS ARE BACK

Just six weeks since the 3-1 win over Montrose the new-look Shire squad returned to Firs Park to start the preparation for the 2008/09 season.

Under the watchful eye of the coaching staff the players underwent the dreaded bleep test to find out just how fit they really are.

For the next few weeks there will be training sessions on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Boss Jim McInally says the more sessions there are the less likely players will miss out through holiday commitments.

"We want to give everyone a chance and we know people will come and go because of holidays. So the more chances we give them to take part the less need there will be for them to play catch up."

But he says it won't be the hard slog of days gone by. "Our training will be football based. The days of running up hills and sand dunes is long gone.

"We learned a lot of the sports science stuff at Celtic and certainly their expert reckoned it could work at part-time level too.

"Each of the players hve been issued with individual heart monitors. The thinking behind that is that it allows each player to train at their own pace.

"No-one likes the pre-season. I  know as a player as soon as one season ended you would worry about it coming up. But we hope we will get them as fit as they can be for the start of the season."

The coach has also revealed he is hopeful of adding two more players to the squad. He should find out one way or another soon.

"I am delighted that the players we targeted chose to come here, and if we start the season only with the players we have signed so far then I  would be happy with that.

"But the two players we are still keen to sign would really add something to what we already have."

shireTV spoke to Jim after the first training session of the season. You can watch the interview in full by clicking on the shireTV link and following the on-screen instructions.