New era to kick off at Diss
After spending the last few weeks recruiting a host of players, Jason Cook will get the chance to see his new-look Diss Town side in action for the first time tomorrow.
The Tangerines’ problems 12 months ago have been well documented, with Cook coming in at the 11th hour to find an almost non-existent playing squad.
To his credit he managed to assemble a team, but it was one starved of Thurlow Nunn League experience and a difficult campaign followed.
Diss finished 12th, which was their lowest position since joining the Eastern Counties League set-up in 1988.
However, with the arrival during the off-season of the likes of Steve Holder, Ricky Cornish, Paul Betson and James Attwood, new life has breathed into the club.
And they will get the opportunity to begin to forge some understandings tomorrow when they travel to Easton for a pre-season friendly (2pm).
“If anything we would liked to have got going a little earlier,” said Cook.
“I am really looking forward to it. We have got in a lot of quality players so it is exciting to see what they can produce together.
“We feel we have made all the right signings and addressed the problems we had last year.
“People are probably going to be looking at us now, wondering what we are going to do, and that increases the expectation levels.
“But from our point of view we can only focus on ourselves and making sure we deliver performances and results.”
The latest player to join the ranks at Brewers Green Lane is Franco Mallardo.
The new addition made 40 appearances at last term as Whitton United were promoted to the Thurlow Nunn top flight.
Most of those outings came at left-back, but Cook intends to use Mallardo in midfield.
“Franco is a great player who was wasted a little bit at left-back,” added Cook.
“He is going to be great for us in midfield.”