Saints players have a ball at pre-season training

Jul 3 2012 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

Saints players have a ball at pre-season training

ST MIRRENS first team stars have been having a ball as their pre-season preparations get under way.

Traditionally, footballers dread the annual summer workout and the slog it entails as they are sent off on agonising hill runs, lung-bursting shuttle sprints and stomach-churning cross-country treks.

But Buddies boss Danny Lennon took a more modern approach as he made sure his troops were able to work on both their fitness and the pretty passing game he insists they play.

Lennon took his men to Bellahouston Park, in Glasgow, as they began their training schedule ... and made sure their hard work was mixed with a bit of fun.

He told Express Sports: The lads have seen plenty of the ball. I dont believe in making them run flat out for two weeks. Instead, we try to work on passing routines as much as possible.

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That helps them to find their touch and timing after the summer break and the boys respond to that.

I think it takes some of the dread away from pre-season.

Lennon made no secret of his hopes of breaking into the SPLs top six last season but was left disappointed as the Buddies came up short.

Now he has drawn up a new masterplan which he hopes will take the Paisley club into unchartered SPL territory.

Lennon said: I want to make this club stronger and we have progressed in the two seasons since I took over.

We want to keep that momentum going and we have one or two things up our sleeves to help us develop the team even further.

The fans will see that on the pitch in the coming weeks. There will be some tactical tweaks that will make us stronger and should cause other teams problems.