BOSS Paul Cox is looking forward to meeting Barrow AFC's supporters tomorrow with his newly-assembled squad.

Cox and his first-team squad will mingle with fans at a special meet and greet session in Barrow town centre tomorrow morning.

New faces such as Ross Hannah, Liam Hughes and Paul Turnbull will sit down and chat with Bluebirds followers in Costa Coffee between 11am and noon.

That will be followed by a training session for the squad, who will then be in among the crowd at Rakesmoor Lane in the afternoon as a team of traillists take on the Furness Select (2pm kick-off).

Cox is pleased to have the chance for supporters to get to know the playing staff better, and said: “It's a great idea from the chairman (Paul Casson). It's going to be a good day for us.

“None of the squad will be playing in the game – that squad will purely be triallists we are going to be looking at – but I think it is very important that we galvanise these players and we are galvanised as a football club.

“The quicker we can show that there isn't any disconnect between the players and the supporters, the better. The quicker we can connect with supporters young and old, the better it will be for everyone.

“There is no better way than in an informal atmosphere in a coffee shop, where we can have a coffee, we can have a talk, we can have a laugh and a joke and people can have pictures taken and ask questions.

“After that, we will have a training session, and then the players will be reporting to the game to mingle with the supporters again. I think that's every important – we all have to be as one next year. The supporters, the players, I don't want any differential between them.

“We are going to have to work really hard to compete next year and we are going to need everyone, from the guy who makes the tea, to the people who sweep the dressing rooms, to the supporters, to the chairman, I want us to be one big team.”

Barrow started pre-season training at their new Hopwood Hall home yesterday and train again today, with a day off on Sunday followed by five days of activity leading into the match at Airbus UK Broughton a week tomorrow.

Cox felt it was essential to have a training session for the contracted players ahead of the Furness Select match, and said: “It will be our third day back, and the boys will have the Sunday off.

“At this stage, with us only just coming back, conditioning and getting us right fitness-wise is important. I think it's important that we don't just come in and swan around – have a cup of coffee, a laugh and a joke – we're here to work as well.”

Barrow AFC have extended their early bird season ticket off until Friday, July 8.

Tickets are available for 10 per cent off the regular price from the club shop.