Residential week vital for Stags' hopes of success

Murray felt having his players together day and night for the first week of pre-season training last year played a vital role in engineering a superb team spirit that saw his side spend much of the campaign challenging for the play-offs.

So his new look squad did the same last week before Saturday’s opening 2-0 friendly success at Rainworth MW on Saturday and Murray said: “It was a very good week.

“We were in a great environment at Brookbsy and the biggest thing about the week was getting everyone together 24/7.

“They were with each other all day, they spent the nights with each other. So for the group spirit and camaradarie it was priceless. You can’t buy that.

“We are over the moon with what we’ve seen from the group so far and we are probably a little bit ahead of schedule.”

Murray added: “What we have realised already is that we’ve brought some top quality into the squad this summer and the things we’ve seen and some of the attitudes and the characters we’ve seen, they’ve fitted right into the group.

“I like to get a lot of the squad done and dusted before we start back pre-season, especially as the week we have at Brooksby is vital.

“It was major with us last season. As you’re there 24/7 and together so much, it makes you feel like you’ve been together for a month.

“If you miss that first week it takes you possibly a couple of months to catch up.”