HEREFORD United manager Martin Foyle reckons getting players in shape for the new season is not exactly rocket science.

The Bulls have returned to the hard graft of pre-season training ahead of the first Conference Premier fixture against Braintree at Edgar Street on Saturday, August 10.

Between now and then, the squad, plus a number of trialists, can expect to be put through their paces by Foyle and assistant Andy Porter.

Yet, while some clubs go down the route of analysing players and use a host of sports scientists, Foyle says there is no substitute for a good old run.

He said: “I’ve tried the scientific approach myself, but football’s a game of running. There’s no other way around it.

“People try the really scientific approach. I’ve tried it in the past and it’s not given any better results.

“We can all do the jumping, the bounding and the timing, but what you can’t hide from is the fact that the players need to put in some hard work.

“We’ll have a few days of running, some spinning and some other bits and pieces and we’ll get the footballs out at the end of next week.”

Among those hoping to earn deals are midfield pair Sam Gwynne and Joel Edwards, both ex-Hereford players who were with Westfields in the Midland Alliance, as well as former loanee Kingsley James.