Workington Town coach wants flying start to new season

In the last two seasons, Town have made slow starts to the year only to then string results together and eventually earn a place in the play-offs.

Veivers is keen to see his side carry the momentum they picked up at the end of 2015 into the new year, starting with this weekend's visit of Sheffield.

"The last two seasons we've started flat and have had to play catch-up, or we find ourselves in a fight against relegation," Veivers said.

"But that's not a word that we ever use down at Zebra Claims Stadium. It's not a word that's spoken.

"We want to get off to a flier starting with this first game."

With the additions of Declan Hulme, Oliver Gordon and Ryan Verlinden to the side and the bedding-in of last year's amateur signings Sam Forrester, Stevie Scholey and Tee Ritson, Veivers believes that the squad is in a stronger position than last year.

"The whole squad will be playing an important part this year," he continued. "They've all got something to contribute to the season - that's why they are in the squad.

"I still think we are two or three players short but that will be an on-going thing.

"That being said, I'm reasonably happy with the squad that I've got."

Workington played both their pre-season fixtures against Barrow and Whitehaven in testing conditions and despite a draw and a defeat, Veivers was pleased to see his players in game conditions.

"They served their purpose," he continued. "Results at this stage of the season don't matter and you don't win trophies in trial games.

"They were in trying and testing conditions but it showed me where our players are at in terms of their preparations and I'm very happy with that.

"There's a bit of a buzz around the place now. A lot of hard work has gone in during the off-season and at the end of the day the boys just want to play some footy."

With a number of players still to return from injury, Veivers says the first few games of the season are an opportunity for some players to stake their claims for a regular place.

"Over the next five weeks, we'll be having players coming back from surgery.

"I'm going to pick players based on their performances and a lot of those players who are out at the moment are first-teamers.

"They all played last year and we finished the season strong and the only four new guys we've brought in are Declan Hulme, Oliver Gordon, Ryan Verlinden and Chris Murphy.

"I signed Chris for a reason. We are short of outside backs and he came through a good system with Warrington as a youngster.

"He retired after breaking his ankle because he thought that was a career ender, but he's fully rehabbed from that and is in good shape."

The Aussie says that any goals for the season will be kept within the club and that weekly and monthly targets have been set as the year progresses.

"We'll be setting ourselves goals for the year but we'll be keeping them in house, you don't want to give your rivals any ammunition," he said.

"We sat down earlier this week and decided where we would like to be come round 23 and I'll have sat down with all the players individually and told them what I want to them to work on and how they can improve."

Veivers also hopes that the dual-registration partnership with Wigan Warriors established two years ago will continue in 2016, but is unsure when players will be made available to him.

"We're going to carry on from where we left off," he added. "They have the reserve team but they will only play 12 games this season, so they need to use other avenues to help their players get game time."