SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens says this week’s training camp in Spain represents the perfect opportunity to build team spirit within the new-look camp.

Wellens has overseen a large overhaul of Town’s first-team squad this summer following the departure of a dozen players at the end of last season.

So far, seven new recruits have been signed, while four youngsters were promoted from the club’s academy after signing their first professional deals.

Town fly out to La Manga this morning for a seven-day camp in southern Spain, which will also include a fixture against Everton’s U23s side on Thursday.

Alongside the obvious fitness benefits, Wellens views the camp as an ideal way to foster a close-knit bond within the squad ahead of the coming League Two season.

“It’s about getting fitness up to 100 per cent, but it’s also a real chance to for us to bond as a group,” said Wellens.

“We have an early flight on Monday, so we will arrive there and work on Monday and we'll work on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then we will play a game on Thursday.

“After the game, the boys can have a night out to enjoy themselves, and then on Friday we will do a bit of recovery and then maybe have a day out.

“I think that side of it is important. With seven new players, it’s important they integrate quickly. I think the early signs are good for that.

“We have got a really good group of lads that want to improve and get better, and they are also good people.

“The early signs are good, but it goes help when you spend 24 hours a day together.

“There are a couple of lads who are a little bit shy at the moment, but once they’ve all had a night out together, they will come out of their shells and the team spirit will go up from there.

“We have tried to make it so we are not in hotel rooms where it is two per room.

“We are staying in accommodation where it is six per room, so we will mix it up. We will put a young one with an old one and a first-year pro. We will get different people sharing.”

Town eased through their first two pre-season friendlies of the summer last week, beating local non-league sides Brimscombe & Thrupp and Swindon Supermarine 6-0 and 3-0 respectively.

Wellens is happy with how his summer programme has unfolded so far and is now looking for the squad to take it up a notch in Spain.

“I am really looking forward to it,” said Wellens.

“I have been really pleased with the first couple of weeks.

"The two performances have been really good. We have not conceded a goal yet and we have looked like scoring goals.”