Stan Ternent has told htafc.com that he is eagerly anticipating seeing his new charges in action on the eve of Saturday's first pre-season friendly at Bury.

The Gaffer - who is arguably Bury's most successful manager ever - takes his new side to Gigg Lane for a 3pm kick-off tomorrow and had nothing but praise for his players when talking to the Club's official website earlier today.

He explained: "The players have done extremely well so far and have worked very hard; I'm delighted with them. I think everybody is looking forward to the pre-season games, but the knack of pre-season is to get through it without any injuries. I'll switch it around and we will try different players in different formations.

"The results aren't of great importance, although everybody likes to win. Come the start of the season I'll have a better idea of exactly where I am up to with the players, as the easiest way is to watch them in games.

"Any manager will tell you that pre-season is a good time and that it's a brilliant job up until Saturdays! As a player, you look forward to the matches and it's good for me as in training, every player is aware of the other's capabilities at the Club and so sometimes you don't get a true picture.

"Obviously you want pre-season to be competitive and intense, but it's quite easy to get a strain or a pull. I've asked the players to be careful, but you have to keep your fingers crossed. The aim is to have a fully fit, healthy and vibrant squad in the week leading up to August 9^th."

He also revealed that he is still looking to add to the squad ahead of the start of the season.

"I have a few ongoing enquiries and I certainly need to strengthen the squad in a couple of areas, as competition is healthy. However, I won't be signing players for the sake of it - they have to be better than what we already have, which isn't easy. Football is all about opinions and I have an idea of what players I need for which positions. We'll have to sit tight and see how things develop, but I certainly want to bring more players into the Club.

"The only thing wrong at this club is that we are in the wrong division - we need to be a league higher, preferably two!"

Only three players have fitness issues ahead of tomorrows friendly against the League Two outfit.

"We have a few small niggles. Boothy has had a precautionary injection in his back as he was feeling it a little, so he won't feature tomorrow. I've brought Tony Grant in on trial, who I've known for a long time, but I'm not quite sure whether he will feature tomorrow, and I'm just keeping an eye on Jimmy Goodwin who is chomping at the bit but is feeling his thigh a little. We'll have a look at the latter two tomorrow morning.

"Obviously some players will play longer than others, but it's my intention to give everyone a spin. Over the course of pre-season everyone will get more or less the same amount of games.

"I've also brought Paul Gerrard in on trial still, but I've had loads in so far that have now gone. He will travel tomorrow. After Matty (Glennon), we have two extremely talented young boys but I think we need a little more than that if we are to mount a serious challenge. It would be unfair to throw one of the two young lads in if something happens to Matty and so I'd like to have a more experienced goalie in."