SWINDON Town’s players should expect a stern test of their credentials once they report for their first day of pre-season training under new manager David Flitcroft, according to former County Ground man Tommy Miller.

Miller played under Flitcroft at Bury during the 2013-14 season, having spent the previous campaign on the books at Swindon, where he made 39 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The 37-year-old expects Flitcroft to hit the ground running and will crack the whip with his players, however, if the Town squad are accepting of the new manager’s mantra, they will find a man who is firm but fair.

“You know who is boss. He will come in and get them on side, which you need, but he won’t take any cheats or shortcuts,” said Miller.

“He is very big on his fitness and the fitness stuff he does is very intense and very hard but it’s all for the benefit of the players, they will reap the benefits at the start of the season.

“There is one thing for sure, they will be flying and very, very fit as soon as the whistle goes for the first game.

“He will need to change a lot of things there and lads coming in will have to buy in to what he’s doing but if you buy in, you will be alright.

“If you work hard for him, you will be on side. If you don’t, I have seen it in the past at Bury, he will discard you, it’s as simple as that.

“He will not take any short measures, you will have to be behind him and if you are, you will be onto a winner, you will be in the team and doing well.”

Miller has warned that players will be in no doubt as to who is in charge once they begin working with Flitcroft and although getting on the wrong side of him is a dangerous game, knuckling down and grafting hard is a way of swaying favour with him.

“He is a bit ruthless but he can also change his mind,” said Miller.

“There was a lad at Bury, I won’t name any names, but he wasn’t pulling his weight in training and David felt he was a little bit heavy.

“He gave him a few chances but he just didn’t take the hint and David totally discarded him and made him train with the youth team until he was up to the right fitness of what was wanted.

“When he was, David did bring him back into the team and I think he did well under him. He won’t mess about, he will do it his way and he feels his way is the right way.”