SOUTHEND United will begin pre-season training in the second week of July.

The National League campaign will not get underway until Saturday August 21.

But returning Blues boss Phil Brown will be doing all he can to get his squad in the best shape possible.

"We’ve already set a date, the second week in July, which is pencilled in the diary for the start of pre-season," said Brown.

"The 8th and 9th of July will be testing days with a view to getting work underway in earnest ahead of the start of the season which is the 21st August.

"That gives us a good six weeks of preparation and it’s going to be six weeks of, how shall I say it, organised pain.

"We’ve had enquiries about games too and We’ll have competitive games to get us ready for a battle next year."

However, Brown must first decide which of the current squad will be staying put.

And talks will be continuing this week.

"We’ve had some very interesting conversations with some of the players and they will know in no uncertain terms what is required come that second week in July,” said Brown.

"What’s going to be required over the off-season is that they look after themselves sufficiently and come back with a reasonable semblance of fitness so that we can go straight at it.

"In the last two or three days every player has been tested for fitness levels, aerobic and anaerobic, body fat and all different levels of what we can measure and when they come back on the 8th and 9th of July I want to see them very close to what they left us.

“If they’re not then I’ll know straight away what their intentions are; they want to take the easy route, which they won’t be allowed to.

"They might have been taking an easy route since I left the club, but I’ve got to put my mark back on this football club."