PAUL Smith has said Bromsgrove Sporting will hit the ground running in the 2015-16 season.

The Rouslers manager has already laid out his club's preparations as he looks to build on their second place finish in the Midlands Premier.

Sporting were pipped to the title and automatic promotion by Highgate United, despite being the division's most inform team at the end.

Players will return for pre-season in Tuesday, June 16, while friendly games are in the process of being finalised.

Smith has also said that the squad are all set to return when pre-season begins, with the attacking trio of Reece Hewitt, Josh McKenzie and Sean Brain all agreeing to remain at the Victoria Ground.

Smith said: "Last season, I joined five games into the season, so I want to make sure that get a good start.

"Our pre-season begins a week ahead of other teams and it's important that we hit the ground running.

"I have talked to the players and they will all be returning for pre-season, which is fantastic.

"Reece Hewitt is attracting some interest but he's staying and I have spoken with Sean Brain and Josh McKenzie and they are coming back as well.

"I felt that we ended the season as the best team in the league and next season and we owe it to ourselves to go and put that right."

Smith replaced Adrian Mander in September and after rebuilding the squad, guided them to an 17-game unbeaten run.

A run of three defeats in four games in February and March seemed to scupper their title hopes but Bromsgrove won their final ten league games to finish just three points behind Highgate.

Sporting them defeated Southam to win the Les James Challenge Cup 3-2 at Walsall's Banks's Stadium.