HOLSWORTHY manager Liam Dart is refusing to set his squad any targets as his side prepare for their Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division One (West) opener at home to Plymouth Marjon on Saturday (3pm).

The Magpies finished 11th in the 17-team division but it’s been a summer of change at Upcott Field with five departures, including that of last year’s players’, supporters’ and manager’s player of the pear James Dart to Southern League side Barnstaple Town, offset by the arrival of eight.

Pre-season hasn’t been the greatest with many players working hard while the soaring temperatures have meant that they haven’t been able to play as many friendlies as they would like.

Dart said: “The last couple of weeks have been really frustrating. We’ve had two away friendlies cancelled the pitches are too hard which has set us back a little bit.

“With the rebuild we’ve had to do, we want them to be playing together but it can’t be helped as we’re not pros.

“We have a few who can’t go away much apart from in the summer, including myself so it’s always going to be the case.”

Dart has lost plenty of experience from his squad but knows it’s part of the game.

He said: “We’ve lost five players from last year. Paul Banks went to Bude which we knew was going to happen because he told us, James Dart has gone to Barnstaple which is fantastic for him as we can’t offer that. If a player wants to move on we wish them the best, it’s a great opportunity for him.

“We’ve also lost Dan Wilson who’s gone to Park United in the North Devon League, defender Ryan Lee to Bude and centre-half Lee Clarke to Bradworthy.”

While Dart would have been disappointed to lose nearly a quarter of his squad, he’s been busy with his recruitment.

He said: “Harley Westlake and Neal Kinsman have arrived from Wadebridge and they’ll offer plenty of quality.

“Harley is a left-back while Neal is a central-midfielder who’ll bring plenty of experience as well and has also played for Plymouth Parkway.”

Other newcomers include right-back Jake Williams from Camelford, strikers Scott Percy and Harry Stevens, who are both strikers and come from Bude and Torridgeside respectively, 19-year-old Harrison Palmer who joins from Merton in the North Devon League, teenage winger Stephen Filsell from Braunton and attacking midfielder Harry Barrett from Bridgerule.

They have also added youngsters Kieran Langman, Dan Seymour-Smith and Oalti Arriku to their squad from last year’s reserves side.

Dart continued: “We wanted to get in players that fit the philosophy and take us on to the next level, but we’ve got to have patience, it’ll take time.

“The new players need time to settle, they’re young as well and for some a step up, it’s going to be interesting to see but they’re all relatively local.

“We need to improve from last year and to do that we need to do the best we can as a group.”

Although Dart naturally wants to see progression, he’s refusing to set any specific goals.

He said: “There’s been a squad rebuild, so it’s a case of just seeing what happens. I don’t want to put too much pressure on the players. I want them to go out there and enjoy themselves and for people to want to come along and watch.”

Saturday will provide a good early indicator for the North Devon club, and Dart expects a big test.

He said: “Marjon are a side from Plymouth and they’re technically superb. They have a lot of pace up front and I think they’ll be one of the teams up there this year.

“However we’d obviously like to play good football ourselves, but that’s pitch dependent.”

In other clubs news, the second team, who ply their trade in the Intermediate One division of the North Devon League and start their season at Merton on Saturday, will once again be managed by Reece Heywood and Darren Heywood and Dart knows that a pathway at the club is imperative.

He said: “The seconds have strengthened their squad. Kieran Langman, Dan Seymour-Smith and Oalti Arriku have all joined the first team squad.

“They all came through the under 18s, who are again managed by Ryan Hall and Lee Thomas and they’ve also strengthened.

“As a club we’ve also seen the canteen franchised out to a local company and we’ve also got a new programme editor.”