Rugby boss Tony Dobson is preparing for his first pre-season since re-joining the club in September.

By Jon Venner

	Valley boss Tony Dobson will be looking to build a side around the core of last season's side.

Dobbo, 40, spent four years with Valley between 2001-2005 including four pre-season campaigns so the former Coventry City & Blackburn Rovers defender is no stranger to the comings and goings of out-of-season football.

The squad will be recalled from their holidays to report to training on Tuesday 7th July with the first friendly only a week later against Barwell on the 16th July on Valley's 3G rubber crumb astroturf facility at Butlin Road.

Already signed are the likes of goalkeeper Andy Stevens, defender Delroy Gordon and striker David Kolodynski while the majority of last season's squad should be returning for pre-season.

Town are expected to welcome a number of new faces to pre-season training with the management team of Dobson, Craig Herbert and Chris Wells set to run the rule over prospective signings.

Several promising young footballers released by professional clubs in the summer will be looked at including Rugby-born striker Josh Thompson from Crewe Alexandra and a midfielder from Northampton Town.

A wide midfield player who turned out for Southern League Midland Division Play-Off side Chesham United is also expected to be trialled over the pre-season games.

Two players who will not feature in Dobson's pre-season plans are defenders Liam Nicell and Stephan Morley, after both signed for new clubs in the past week.

Ex-Coventry City junior Nicell joined Town in October 2008, and started 28 league games for the club on the right side of the back four. Morley returned to Valley for his second spell after starting last season at Banbury, and put in a series of consistent performances at left back - earning his manager's nomination for player of the year in the process.

Nicell has signed for premier division rivals Brackley, whilst Morley has joined Northern League Premier side King's Lynn - who were relegated from the Blue Square leagues for failing to meet ground grading requirements.

Meanwhile, two playes moving down the footballing pyramid are midfielder Neil King (Woodford) and Daren Dykes (Newport Pagnell) who have both decided to move on.