BRIDPORT manager Adam Fricker admitted he has to have his finger on the pulse already when it comes to squad recruitment next season.

The Bees’ chief, who has already re-captured the services of striker Tom Richardson, admitted “it’s a different type of pressure” during the off season, with regards to structuring his playing personnel.

And, with competition from other clubs around the area understood to be vying to capture the signatures of players he has targeted for next term, Fricker insists he is still busy, despite his squad being off on their summer break.

“It doesn’t really stop because you need to be talking to players,” the manager said.

“I am surprised at how quickly the clubs get on to the players straight after the season.

"When it was me playing I’d like to have a break to gather my thoughts and go from there.

“As a manager, I try to do that with the players as well but other clubs are contacting them constantly, so you need to be on to the lads straight away.

“It’s a break from football from a weekend perspective, but it’s a different type of pressure because we are desperate to get a few new faces in, just to mix it up a bit really.”

Fricker claims he has had competition from Dorset rivals Dorchester Town for some of his summer targets, but is hoping that regular game time will attract them to feature at St Mary’s Field.

“If it was like for like then its likely lads would go to Dorchester,” he added.

“For us, it’s about convincing those players that they are going to be playing week in week out in the Western Premier.

“We are hopeful that we will get a few more of the targets that we have got in mind.”

n The Bees annual general meeting is set to be held on Thursday, June 1 (7.30pm).