RANGERS BOSS DAVE Ricardo has admitted to an air of excitement as the club prepares for its return to the NCEL Premier Division.
Since clinching the NCEL First Division title on April 22 at Campion, Ricardo and the club have been quietly going about their business ahead of their return to the NCEL's top flight for the first time since 2013.
Hall Road's presentation night finally went ahead last weekend and following the event, attention has now turned to the pre-season schedule and the start of the new NCEL season on August 5.
Thirteen days ahead of the squad's return to training and Ricardo has admitted that although the club has been quiet in recent weeks the hard work has continued behind the scenes.
He also confessed to a feeling of excitement as the long and relatively empty summer Saturday afternoon are soon to be a thing of the past when the hustle and bustle of a 42 game league season is set to return.
"This is the time of year that's exciting in terms of getting the lads back in and also bringing in a number of players that I have been looking forward to working with for some time and in some instances once again.
The quality of players Billy (Gill) and myself have been meeting with are different class and will add to the cracking squad we have at present and will mean we can push for the top.”
Although remaining tight-lipped on the identity of potential new signings the majority of last season's championship winning squad appear to have committed to Rangers assault on the NCEL Premier Division next term
This is a timely boost following the news this week that Rangers will be without Jake Vernon who has moved out of the area to complete a master's degree.
French goalkeeper Thibault Granger has also returned to his homeland to complete his university studies
Ricardo has been linked with a number of exciting players in the summer but until the squad return for pre-season training on June 20, identities of certain signings are been kept under wraps.
Although under no illusions as to the difficulty of the new season, with new exciting trips to Bridlington, Pickering and Worksop to name a few lined up, and as fans scramble to key new ground's into their sat-nav's, Dave Ricardo also admits the NCEL First Division champions will be looking to continue their progress.
“It's not going to be easy next year but I am confident, and with the belief the players and other members of the management team have, we fully believe we can gain success for the second successive season.
I am excited by the conversations with present and potential signings that I have been having, and know that we are all on the same hymn sheet and wanting to push the club forward on the pitch.” Ricardo said
With the smell of fresh summer cut grass and the expected toil of pre-season training now on the horizon an announcement in regards to pre-season friendlies is also imminent.
“Everything is set up in terms of pre season friendlies, training gear and the beauty of playing at Haworth Park is that training and games are all at the same facility.
The players are an honest group.
In fact, one of the elements I have been looking at in terms of targets is that they show that same level of honesty and hunger so I know the pre-season period will display a lot of hard work and quality.”
Whilst the club embrace next season's challenges on the pitch, the hard-work has also continued off the pitch in the continuing development of their Haworth Park home.
The new downstairs bar has been opened and was so when the club hosted the East Riding Senior Cup Final last month.
The dressing rooms and toilet facilities have also undergone work and continue to have work carried out, whilst new speakers were also installed in the ground towards the end of last season.
The playing surface has also been re-seeded and fertilised as Rangers continue to build towards the start of the new season.