GORNAL Athletic manager Matt Whitehouse says he is pleased with how pre-season preparations are going at Garden Walk.

New boss Whitehouse, who was with Willenhall Town last term, takes charge of the Peacocks after former manager Andy Wyton left towards the end of the previous campaign.

He has already begun to form the foundations of his squad as pre-season begins to gather pace.

Goalkeeper Matt Jones has joined from Dudley Sports and the versatile Dean Humpage has linked up from Willenhall.

Though the team is set to have a majority of fresh faces, Martin Smith has also committed to stay.

Other new additions to the first team squad are Bradley Weston and Connor Fellows, who were with Gornal’s under-21 side last season, but have impressed during the early weeks back.

Whitehouse said: “The sessions have been going really well so far. I’m really pleased with how everything is progressing for us.

“You never know how it will go and which players will turn up for pre-season, but I’m happy with everyone. It has gone even better than I hoped.

“We have other players lined up for the squad as well and will continue to look at people over the next few games as the squad continues to take shape.

“So far they look like a group that wants to listen and learn and be moulded into a side, which is all I can ask.

“We will have players that don’t have experience of our level of football but others that can hopefully help guide them through.”

Gornal will host Walsall Wood at Four Ashes, Station Drive, this Saturday as their friendly programme steps up a notch.

Trips to Bilston Town on July 27 and Racing Club Warwick on July 30 will soon follow.

The club’s final friendly clash will see Lye Town visit Garden Walk on August 2.