CRAY Wanderers chief Ian Jenkins is urging his squad to make a positive start this year when the new Ryman Premiership season kicks off on Saturday.

This will be the Wands’ second year competing at this level but Jenkins is determined there will be no repeat of last season’s slow start which ultimately dented his side’s play-off chances.

He said: “The aim is to do better than last year and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be looking at the promotion and play-off places this time.

“We need to make a positive start because that didn’t happen last year.

“There were a few poor results early on and that ended up costing us because we had a terrific run of results from Christmas.

“Our fitness levels are much better this year because we started pre-season on July 1 and it has been a hell of a wait for the first game to actually start.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known a pre-season as long as this one in all of my years in the game.”

The Ryman is the final league to get under way but the long wait finally comes to an end on Saturday, with Cray on the road at AFC Hornchurch.

“We had a couple of tough games against them last year and they are a big, strong side,” added Jenko.

“I watched them in a friendly recently so know exactly what to expect.

“We will be without both of new central defenders, Alan McLeod and Chris Saunders, through suspension.

“It isn’t ideal but we knew it was coming and have been looking at a few other options in pre-season.”