Realistic Shrivenham boss Mark Love knows his young side will face a tough season but insists he is up for the fight.

The man who steered Wroughton to the Wiltshire League title last season had originally been offered the top job at Pewsey, but when Pete Horwat called it quits at Shrivvy, the opportunity of Hellenic Premier football was too good to turn down.

But he was immediately faced with a tough rebuilding job, with leading lights TJ Bohane, Tom Cole, Matt Bennett, Rory Sproule and Russell Byrne all switching to bitter rivals Highworth in the summer.

Love has responded by recruiting many of his former Wroughton side.

“This is a rebuilding year for us and we know it’s going to be a challenge,” said Love, pictured.

“We’ve brought in a number of lads who are new to this level, so they are eager to see what it’s all about.

“The average age of our side is 22 so we know that we haven’t got the experience of some of the other sides in the division but most of the lads have played together before, which of course helps.”

Now the jury is out over whether the newcomers from Wroughton can make the two-division leap from the Wilts Premier and remain competitive.

Love said: “It’s a big step up, not only for the new players but for me as well. But the chairman has been great and given me his full support.

“Rob Hopkins has come in as my assistant and has been great during the summer so we are now looking forward to getting started.”

With Love opting for young talent he says he will be patient as he builds for the future.

“When I took the job over I said I had a two to three-year plan,” he added.

“The type of player I have here fits that plan and the players, as well as myself, will develop as we go.”

After his predecessors guided Shrivvy to a satisfactory mid-table finish last year Love says he would welcome a repeat performance.

He added: “If we could finish in the top 10 I would be very happy indeed.”