The Manager gives his reaction to the 2016/17 fixture release and the first-round draw of the EFL Cup.
The fixtures for the 2016/17 season were released this morning on the Official Club Website, with the Exiles hosting Mansfield Town in the opening game of the 2016/17 season on Saturday 6th August at Rodney Parade.
Manager Warren Feeney is looking forward to starting the new season and is focusing on putting preparations in place for the new campaign.
"It is very pleasing to get a home game to kick-off the season," said the Manager.
"All the signs show that it is going to be a very competitive division this season and we are playing teams in the opening few games that will be among the favourites in this league."
"We have trips to Leyton Orient and Luton early on and visits to those grounds are never easy."
"The players will return for pre-season training towards the end of next week. There will be plenty of fitness work early on in the pre-season schedule, and I believe that fitness plays a big part of the game at this level."
"I have been in teams where we have won all our pre-season games and then had a bad start to the season and I have experienced the opposite when teams lose all their preseason games and start the League season badly. This time of the year for me is all about getting the players fit and ready for the new season."
"We will get the players in and work them hard and that will create an atmosphere where they will bounce off each other and gel as a squad."
"Every fixture is important to us. We will take one game at a time, so after the Mansfield game, our attention will switch straight to the next game."
Earlier this afternoon the Exiles were drawn against MK Dons in the EFL Cup. Manager Warren Feeney said that he is excited about the fixture, but the priority is very much the League campaign.
"MK Dons have obviously dropped down from the Championship last season, so I'm sure it will be a tough game."
"They are a good footballing side and I know Karl Robinson and Richie Barker well."
"We obviously want to do well in the cup competitions and go as far as possible. The league is very much our priority, but it's a game that we will certainly enjoy."
Take a look at the key dates for the 2016/17 EFL season, by clicking HERE.
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