James Rowe says there is a very positive mindset going into the opening fixture of the season at Aldershot Town.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Rowe said: “We’re in good spirits and looking forward to the trip to Aldershot.
“The staff have worked really hard around me to make sure everyone’s ready and can play the way we want to play in and out of possession and on transitions.”
Discussing the signing of Kabongo Tshimanga , Rowe commented: “He had some really good other options and for him to choose us as a club speaks volumes of perhaps where the environment has moved to in the past nine months. We’re trying to build a culture here and I think the signing of Kabongo underlines that.
“It’s taken nine months to transform the team. We always want to strive forward and perhaps more changes were made in the summer than we wanted to make or expected to make. It was important to make those extra tweaks.”
Rowe had a spell as Aldershot’s assistant-manager and he is relishing the clash with his old club, saying: “I know what we’re up against. It’s going to be a challenge. I’m going there for three points, as I’m sure you’d expect. The team are fully focused on the game.”