HEREFORD FC manager Josh Gowling says that the club will use pre-season training and friendlies to test a range of trialist and ‘try before they buy’.

The Bulls returned to pre-season training today with a session at Edgar Street held in groups of five due to Covid-19 protocols.

Gowling says that there will be an ample supply of players available before the new season due to players dropping down the football pyramid.

“We are going to bring in players we have identified to have a look at,” said Gowling, speaking to Radio Hereford FC.

“Me and Steve (Burr) have got targets that we want to bring in and around that there will be players that have left clubs.

“The salary cap for example in the Football League, there will be a lot of players dropping out of league clubs.

“That then filters down to the National Premier there will be players that will then drop down from there as financially clubs can’t keep hold of them.

“There will be a lot of players available which means from our point of view as a football club we can try before we buy I suppose and get players in to look at and decide if they fit right, have got the right attitude and blend right with the team.”

The Bulls have so far announced five pre-season friendlies starting with a trip to Wellington on Tuesday, August 25.

“There will be a few more pre-season friendlies, we’re going to have quite a few friendlies this pre-season,” added Gowling.

“Because the lads have had such a long lay-off with us training twice a week they need more game-time so we’re going to try and get a game Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday to get them up to speed because that’s how the season is going to start at a quick pace with a lot of games.

“That gives us the availability to play lads a couple of 45 minutes and then build our fitness levels up which prevents injuries.

“With that with playing lads 45 minute it gives us an opportunity to possibly bring in 10 trialists and look at them during games. There are a lot of things we can do pre-season which is really going to benefit us.”