SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown says his troops must be prepared to ‘go through the pain barrier’ when they report back for pre-season training this morning.

The Town squad will get back together for the first time since the final game of last season on May 5 to begin their summer programme ahead of the new campaign.

Today will also mark the start of Brown’s first pre-season camp as Town boss, having been handed the reins at the Energy Check County Ground on a permanent basis six-and-a-half weeks ago.

Getting the Town squad in shape physically is the priority for Brown initially, with rigorous fitness testing planned at Southampton Solent University this week.

The former Premier League boss says his pre-season plan has been thoroughly put together, and the primary requirement from his players is hard work.

“Pre-season is a six-week campaign and I do my first two weeks as a fitness hit,” said Brown.

“You need to get the foundations and the base of your fitness levels in place for the next 46 games – and I get them in the first two weeks.

“It is well and truly thought out. The first couple of days will be testing, and we are going to Southampton where the facilities are second to none to have a look at the players from a physical point of view and see what areas we need to improve on.

“I always get the balls out because I think it is important that you motivate players at this time of the season because they know they are going to go through the pain barrier.

“They know they are going through a time where their bodies are going to be put through very intense programmes and turmoil, tension and stress.

“The first two weeks are really intense, but hopefully it will be enjoyable as well.”

Town are due to play their first pre-season friendly of the summer next Tuesday when they travel to local non-league side Cirencester Town.

Brown says moving from fitness regimes to tactical work with footballs will be a natural progression as he seeks to keep players driven to hit their peak when it matters most for the start of the new League Two season on August 4.

“When you get that round thing out, players tend to look at it and get excited and get motivated,” said Brown.

“But you probably only start working towards football in the last two weeks, when you are planning and preparing, going through systems and set-pieces and different modes of playing. You put that all together in the last two weeks of pre-season.”