Adam Clayton insists the only focus among the Rovers squad has been progression as they seek to push for promotion in the new season.
The new team captain met with the media ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two opener at Bradford City and said there will be a step by step approach to achieving success this term.
Clayton on putting last season to bed:
“We reflected on last season at the end of it but it’s just been about starting again anew.
“We’ve brought nine players in and a new coaching staff so it feels like a fresh start and all the players are raring to go.
“We finished the season quite well, albeit going down. We put together a good run and it’s about building on that with the players we’ve brought in and I think we can do that.
“A lot of the lads were injured last season so they had to watch from the sidelines and see what happened to the club. They’ll be raring to go to make it right.
“There were a lot of different situations, like me being out of the game for a while and coming back in, where I needed to find my feet.
“We’ve taken our pill, swallowed it and we’ve got the aim and the goal to try to get back to where we think we should be as quickly as possible.”
On feeling wanted again in football:
“The trust in a manager is back. That is the one thing I said to my family when I left Birmingham was that I wanted to feel needed, wanted and loved again in football like I did when I was at Middlesbrough.
“I feel like I’ve got that back now and I need to drive the standards to make sure I’m still needed and wanted at the end of the season.
“You don’t realise how far off it you are until you get back into the games. I couldn’t just stroll back in so it was right decision to get me as fit as possible. We just ran out of games in the end.
“In pre-season I’ve been in every day and done every session. I feel really good and can’t wait for the season to get started.”
On progression in the squad and expectations:
“We’ve got a really good team growing here with good staff and good people around the building.
“I can really sense that nice things are coming and we’ve just got to keep on top of it and make sure the application and workrate is there.
“We’ve not been shying in saying what our goals are.
“It’s about the steps on the way to that. We have to win games and to do that we have to be a good team, a good unit and do anything for each other.
“There’s going to be tough times and there’s going to be good times. That is a full season.
“When we got promoted at Middlesbrough it was one of the least smooth seasons imaginable. But you find a way to keep going.
“We know our aim and the first step towards that is at Bradford on Saturday.
“We’ll try to win the game and if we can’t do that then we’ll try to draw it. That has to be the attitude throughout.”
