NEW boss Ty Shaw admits it will “take time” for Worcester Wolves to gel this season but wants his players to play with a “smile” on their face.

Shaw will take charge of his first competitive match with Wolves at the University of Worcester Arena on Friday (7.30pm) when they entertain Paul James’ Plymouth Raiders in the British Basketball League.

Following James’ shock departure in late June Wolves’ managing director Mick Donovan and his advisor Alejandro Vaquera were left to recruit players and appoint a new head coach.

Shaw took over the reins on September 7 and admitted his first two weeks at the club had been a “whirlwind” as he stressed there was “always something to add to your to-do list”.

But the former Wolves player is keen to head into the campaign in a "positive" frame of mind as he prepares his new-look team.

“There are two ways you can approach it,” Shaw said.

“You can either complain about it, cry about it and start giving yourself excuses or you can put your head down and do the best work you can as a coaching staff and as players.

“I would rather just get my head down, approach it with a positive mind-set and see where we can get to because complaining or making excuses is not going to do anything for anybody.

“Let’s build as a group, let’s be positive and let’s see what happens.”

During James’ reign Worcester won the BBL Trophy and BBL play-offs in 2014, reached the BBL Cup final this year and finished in the top four in five of the past seven seasons.

Shaw had been impressed by how much the club had grown since he played for the team between 2003 and 2006.

But he refused to make “any crazy predictions” ahead of this term.

“I think it is a really hard when you are in a new situation, with new coaches and players (to make predictions),” Shaw aid.

“You always want to project the best but I think the important thing is to focus on the process of getting better and coming together as a team.

“If you can do those things and establish a great culture I think some of those things take care of themselves.

“I would say that we have not had the longest pre-season that I have ever been a part of as a player or a coach so it is going to take time.

“It is going to take time for the players to get to know each other and for the coaches to get to know each other and the players.

“But we shouldn’t question the players’ work ethic. They have approached it with a positive mind-set and attitude which has been really refreshing.”

Wolves lost 81-74 in their only pre-season run-out on Monday and now face a double header this weekend with their meeting against Plymouth followed by a trip to Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday (5.30pm).

“It is going to take us time to gel but we are going to play hard,” Shaw added.

“I like to see tough, physical, high-energy basketball with guys making smart decision, but also playing with a smile on their face because basketball is a game and should be fun.

“When you are working hard that smile should definitely be there.”