Justin speaks to thediamondsfc.com about the new signings and ahead of the new season.

Justin, you've been playing the game and managing the game, do you still get excited about the start of the season?

I think you always do, it's something that's in your system and in your blood and obviously after the excellent season that the players produced last year and then just missing it at the final hurdle makes you desperate to get back and get the boys back together and look to push on from where we finished last year. We understand that's it going to be a difficult achievement if we are to reproduce that but knowing the group as I do, we'll set ourselves targets and we'll try and reach them again. Whether or not we do, we can see that financially we're nowhere near competing with the top twelve or fourteen sides in this league, so it's going to be tougher than last year but we all like a challenge and we're all looking forward to it.

For the fans, what's your assessment of the players that you've brought in, should they be excited about the prospect of seeing these new players that you've brought in?

Yeah, I think so. They've all got their own individual stamp and bring their own little pieces to the football club and I think they're the right age, some have brought vast experience and great CVs and some have a hunger and a desire to become a professional footballer and we've given them that opportunity. Each and every one of them will bring something to the table and I know the fans will warm to them.

Are you happy enough to be starting pre season without a couple of loan signings you were talking about in the squad?

Oh yeah, I think numbers wise we're comfortable, but I think any manager always wants to strengthen his squad, we lost some players last year for unforeseen circumstances and it looks like we may miss out on Mark Byrne now, which is a disappointment, but we've got a ready made replacement in Alan Power to come in to fill those boots and he's more than capable of doing that so no problems there. Other people went for other reasons but I'm sure the people that I've brought in can fill those positions. I would like to add one or two more but as we stand now, I'm delighted with the attitude, the condition in which the players have come back, the amount of work they've put in, in difficult conditions this week as it's been hotter than normal this pre season, so I've been delighted with them.

Just briefly, is that confirmed then, Nottingham Forest have said that Mark Byrne won't be coming back?

Yeah more or less, I think their decision is one which I can do nothing about, he's not our player and it's not our decision. I'm a little bit disappointed because I felt we gave him the platform, the opportunity to come and perform last year and I felt that even maybe for a short spell of three to four months then he may have returned and pressed on but the player or the club's decision has gone against that but we understand and the difficulties are when you take loan players in are that they're not yours at the end of the season, but everyone else that I wanted to resign has stayed with us and I think that's a compliment to the football club, myself and the other players that are here that they've committed.

So, we miss out on one, but as one door shuts another one opens and at this present time we're talking to one or two players as there's a lot of players out there at the present time without a football club and without a job, so we can be patient and maybe cherry pick from the tree.