DAVID Flitcroft says Swindon Town’s players are still getting to grips with his new regime as he prepares to oversee his first game as the club’s manager today.

Town make the short trip to local Southern League side Swindon Supermarine this afternoon (3pm) for what is now their annual opening pre-season friendly of the summer.

Supporters will get a first chance to see the new manager on the sidelines as well as the seven summer signings who are all likely to run out in Town colours for the first time at the Webbswood Stadium.

Flitcroft has had the Town players back in training for less than a fortnight and has overseen a dramatic overhaul of not just the squad’s look but also it’s mentality.

He will therefore not read too much into the outcome of today’s game or Tuesday’s following friendly at Western League side Melksham Town.

“The next week, it’s just another training load, that’s the way we are looking at it,” said Flitcroft.

“We are too soon into the pre-season to start thinking what we need from a tactical point of view.

“I have had to change around the mentality so much here that that’s all we have been concentrating on – fixing ourselves on the primary focus of our values. That’s taken a lot of time and commitment from everyone at the club.

“We are probably four days behind with my tactical plans and strategies because getting the base level and foundations of exactly what we want and completely turning something on its head has been the focus.

“That has taken at least four days longer than what I would usually do but we had to get this mindset into this group of players.

“I am now seeing it and feeling it on the training ground. A few weeks on, I am really proud of the staff and the players for the work and commitment they have put in already.

“We are looking certainly at this game and Tuesday’s game as an extra training session. We are piecing it together but it’s taken one hell of an effort to get to this stage and get to our first game.”

Flitcroft admits it has been a tough learning curve for the Town squad as the intensity of training is significantly higher than what they are used to. However, the 43-year-old is pleased with the response he has seen.

“It’s been a big shift for them,” said Flitcroft.

“I think it’s been completely different, almost completely the opposite to what they have been used to as normal. Normal to them was at a certain intensity, a certain level, but we have really stressed the importance of our values and work ethic and mentality.

“We are just working through each player and I think they have wanted this guidance and strong leadership and they have really embraced it and committed to it.”

NEWS, REACTION AND PICTURES FROM SWINDON TOWN'S CLASH AT SWINDON SUPERMARINE THIS AFTERNOON HERE AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN MONDAY'S SWINDON ADVERTISER