Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger is “buzzing” to get going with his first season in charge at the club as he prepares for the team’s final pre-season friendly.

Grainger was appointed manager at Borough Park in May after retiring from professional football and leaving Carlisle United.

He took over a club that had just been relegated and has had to mould the squad to his liking over the course of pre-season.

Now he is in a position where he feels the team are almost ready for the campaign to begin and he admitted he cannot wait to get under way.

“There’s always that excitement,” he said.

“I’ve absolutely loved it and have no regrets at all about retirement and moving into management.

“I can’t wait now, I’m buzzing for it.

“The only downside of pre-season is that we haven’t been able to get a home game sorted so that the fans could see what we’re all about and how we’re trying to play.”

The drop from the Football League to non-league football has brought lessons for Grainger but he is grateful for the help of coaches Steve Rudd and Gari Rowntree to help him get used to the challenges of managing semi-professional players.

“Having been part of the professional game, it’s sometimes hard for me to understand little things on the semi-professional side,” he said.

“I’m lucky I’ve got Gari Rowntree and Steve Rudd who have been part of this for a long time and know how things work.

“We’re working well as a threesome, bouncing ideas off each other and that’s what I want.

“I need them to put their points across and make sure their voices are heard because if they just agree with everything I say that doesn’t really help anyone.”

Reds travel to take on Atherton Collieries this afternoon (3pm kickoff) and, ahead of the trip, goalkeeper Jim Atkinson told the club’s website he is enjoying playing Grainger’s preferred style of football.

He said: “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve always tried to do.​

“Last year it was difficult where I was, struggling to get points and it was a different game, but when I was full-time at Queen of the South, that was the way I was taught to play.​

“It’s natural for me and hopefully we can kick on and it’ll be a good season.

n An open evening will be held from 6.30pm at Borough Park on Thursday for fans to watch a training session and meet the management team.

Season tickets and replica shirts will also be available to buy.