Ballinamallard are only one week into their pre-season preparations for the upcoming season, but already manager Whitey Anderson believes the signs are positive for the season ahead. The manager has overseen an upheaval of the squad which finished ninth last season. Captain Mark Stafford and influential midfielder Davy Kee have left for Linfield and the boss has signed six players for the first team squad, with Robbie Hume, Michael McCrudden, Aaron Patterson, Adam Lecky, Alvin Rouse and Shane McCabe all looking forward to playing in front of the Ferney Park fans.

Despite the large number of new arrivals, Whitey is delighted with the atmosphere in the squad. “When you bring new people in it is very important that you integrate those new people very quickly, and you can see already in training there has been a great camaraderie and a great buzz,” he said. “Pre-season can be difficult and some players are on holidays but so far I am happy with how it is shaping up. The new boys have settled in extremely well and everyone has made them feel very welcome. You can see the intensity in training and there is certainly a lot of competition for places at the present time. I am very happy with the way things are going and the way everything is coming together.” The team’s first pre-season friendly resulted in a comfortable victory over Killymoon, with several of the new faces getting on to the score sheet. Two goals from Liam Martin and strikes from new boys Shane McCabe and Aaron Patterson gave the Mallards a 4-0 half time lead, and they eased further clear in the second period thanks to goals four goals from Ryan Campbell and one apiece from John Currie, Liam McMenamin and Robbie Hume.

The manager was the first to admit that the score line was not the most important factor. “It wasn’t about the result, it was just about getting game time in a game situation,” said Whitey. “At this stage in the first week we are just looking for everyone to get 45 minutes against a team from a lower division. We got a lot out of it in terms of watching the new players and watching the positions they were taking up and what they can bring to the team. From what I have seen so far I am very happy. There was a couple of them scored and it was a good workout.” Whitey is happy with the quality and quantity of the players he has added to the squad, and having watched their early pre-season efforts he says he has no intention of adding further to his panel of players. “I genuinely at the minute have no intentions of bringing anyone else in, however you can never rule it out,” he said. “Someone could leave for whatever reason and that could end up freeing up money and maybe someone becomes available at the same time so you never know, but I’m not actively looking for anyone.”