Coach Lee Duxbury says the club will be able to call on more strength in depth next term thanks to the re-introduction of the reserve team.

The club announced recently that the second string was set to return after a one-season hiatus where they only took part in cup competitions after withdrawing from the Central League.

Confirmation that the club will compete in the West section in 2009/10 will cut down on the travelling times which hampered Duxbury's side so often in 2007/08.

"Being so far away in the Central League was a problem for us during the season before last, so we're glad we're back in the Western section," he said.

"The fact that the reserves are coming back is a big plus for us because a lot of players - people like Dale Stephens and the goalkeepers - suffered because of a lack of matches.

"Now we have an opportunity to bring the injured lads back in slowly as well as building some of the younger players through as well.

"People were coming back not match-fit last year because in the main the reserves weren't there to fill that role.

"But the year before we had so many injuries that we were playing schoolboys in the reserves towards the end, so it can work both ways."

Meanwhile Duxbury has been putting the players through their paces in mid-break sessions recently as part of an expanded role on the fitness side of the coaching set-up.

"Before the start of pre-season last year everyone took on a different area and mine was fitness," he explained.

"I did bits in the afternoons with the lads later on in the year as well, like Reuben [Hazell] when he was suspended.

"I enjoy the fitness side of the game; we're using a number of activities this year such as swimming and boxing, as well as work with and without the ball. 

"I enjoy the sessions and I think the lads do too, even though we're doing both mornings and afternoons!"