The Sky Blues boss is relishing the opportunity to face newly promoted sides during next season's League One campaign...
It was revealed yesterday that the Sky Blues will be travelling to Swindon Town on day one of the 2016/17 League One season, with the club’s home campaign commencing the following week against Shrewsbury Town.
The City boss has revealed that his mind is focused on continuing to build the Coventry City squad ahead of next season and preparing for a positive pre-season.
“The aim now is to have a positive pre-season, get the squad in place and try to hit the ground running early on,” Mowbray commented.
“There is no guarantee that because teams had a good season last year that they will go and do the same this year. Swindon Town being a classic case of that. We’re going to have a completely different team from last year and that is part of the challenge, the rebuilding process. Teams in this league change so rapidly.
“I don’t think the fixture list gives you any major indication of who will be strong. There are certain teams you know who have financial clout and will be a threat and certain teams who will be a new challenge like Northampton Town. Looking forward to it really and I don’t think it is easy to pinpoint what fixtures will be the toughest at this point.”
Although admitting the release of the fixtures does begin to put the upcoming season in perspective, the manager has said that the key focus is ensuring the club are able to target specific players that bring quality to the side.
The Sky Blues’ players report back for pre-season training on June 30th, as they begin a month’s worth of preparation ahead of the League One kick-off on August 6th.
“We went through pre-season last year with a very young squad and no real strikers; Armstrong, Murphy and Kent were all late arrivals. We have to keep working away behind the scenes putting a team together, it’s difficult in June to put a complete squad together.
“I am talking with advisors and agents on a daily basis and bit by bit I am sure our team will fall in to place. We are being patient and waiting for the right players, I don’t want to fill the squad with personnel just because they are available. We have got to like them and want them.
“As a manager, I’m looking at the areas where we need speed, or power or technicality and identifying players that fit that mould. Our targets have choices, because they are good players, but I’m hoping that a few of them drop in and we’ll also look at the loan market to strengthen further.
“As the weeks roll on I am confident that the team will get stronger and the numbers will get deeper, and by August we will be raring to go.”