SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb believes his side are ready for what will be a challenging season ahead despite being dealt the blow of losing his skipper in the build-up.

Goalkeeper Matt Bulman ruptured his Achilles tendon during last weekend’s pre-season win against Frome Town leaving him facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

And with Dan Lawrence now with Swindon Town’s development team, Webb is rushing around to find a new keeper.

While the Marine chief has been scrambling to find a new stopper, he is confident that the rest of his squad is ready for their Division One South & West campaign.

“Overall, our pre-season has been excellent it has just been overshadowed by the injury to Bully,” said Webb.

“Our thoughts are with Matt Bulman and hopefully he makes a very speedy and full recovery, that he comes back and tries to play the game again because he has still got a lot to offer.

“It is a huge blow because I made him captain, he is experienced and I believe he is the best goalkeeper in this league.

“He is worth 12 points a season for me so he is impossible to replace.

“We just need to move on from that now and see if we can secure a good keeper.”

Meanwhile, it appears that Webb has concluded his transfer business for the summer and is now focusing on getting the first three points of the season at Didcot tomorrow.

With phoenix clubs Hereford and Salisbury both being promoted to the league this season, Webb is not underestimating the job at hand but believes his squad will be able to compete for a top five finish.

“I’m happy with the players we have brought in,” he added. “We have let nine players go and brought eight players in so it is a big change in terms of the squad and that will take a little bit of time.

“I am not going to use that as an excuse. We have had this group together most of pre-season and they are getting to know each other and working hard.

“I think every manager wants to win their first game and get their first three points.

“You learn in August about the team and the quality of the league.

“The league has been talked about being the strongest league for many years and I think that is probably right, what we have got to do is be as competitive as we can.

“We have only had one season during my time here, when we had a crippling injury-hit campaign, when we didn’t do as well as we should but the other three seasons we have always been in the play-offs and competed well.”

“That is always our target and it will be again.”