LAUNCESTON boss Neil Price is targeting ‘mid-table or slightly higher’ as the Clarets prepare for tomorrow's SWPL Premier West opener with Wadebridge Town at Pennygillam (3pm).

Price took over last summer and was left with a complete rebuilding job after the vast majority of Dan Hart’s squad left the club.

Despite a disastrous start where fulfilling fixtures was almost deemed a success, they eventually galvanised and finished the season strongly to finish third bottom ahead of St Dennis.

Price has kept the majority of the squad together but has let Alfie Cole, James Hamson, James Richardson and Paul Wearing leave with several incomings.

Former Truro City and Bath City striker Andy Watkins is the highest profile recruit, while exciting winger Connor Madge from Okehampton Argyle, powerful defender Harley Westlake from Bude Town, versatile defender Ryan Bath from Plymouth Marjon and talented forward Joe Munday from Bodmin Town have also joined.

The Clarets have played half a dozen friendlies, and Price feels they are ready despite last Friday’s 10-0 humbling by two-league higher Mousehole.

He said: “Overall we’ve had a fantastic pre-season, played some really tough games including some tough sides from the SWPL Premier East division.

“The only real disappointment was the scoreline against Mousehole, but it was just one of those nights where they played out of their skin, they were magnificent.

“Speaking to them after they said it was a complete one-off.

“They should have beaten Dorking in pre-season, and if they play like that they’ll be up there in the Southern League as well.

“They put shots in from 30 yards and flicked headers, they were just superb. We played well in parts and created some chances but everything they did worked, you had to admire it.”

Price feels that they are moving forward throughout the club.

He said: “I’ve got a really good, strong group of 18 or 19 plus some youngsters from the reserves.

“I’m working closely with Kev Hatch and we’re in a decent position which is night and day compared to where we found ourselves last year.

“We’re making lots of improvement as a club on and off the field. We’ve now got GPS vests and a Veo coming, plus Sky Sports and so on in the changing room, so the signs are good.

“If we can finish halfway up or slightly higher that’ll be a good season for us.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day and there will be bumps on the road, but we’re now much more stable off the field.

“Everyone is working hard throughout the club and over the next couple of years we can become a really good side in this division.”

Things don’t get much trickier than two of last year’s top four in Wadebridge Town and Liskeard Athletic to open up with, but Price expects to make it difficult.

He said: “Although we’ve got two of which I think will finish in the top three in our opening two games, the goal is to be closer them.

“Liskeard are like the Harlem Globetrotters with all the names in this league, and along with Wadebridge who we play on Saturday, and Wendron, are favourites for the league.

“We don’t want to be rolling over for anybody and we want sides coming away from Pennygillam thinking ‘that was tough’.”

While their season won’t be defined by those games, Price expects them to flourish against the rest.

He said: “Besides against the top six or seven I expect us to win more than we lose , and we should get several more points than we did last season.

“We’ve got more pace in our line-up with (Alfie) Fothergill, Madge and Watkins, so we’re in a much better place.

“We’ve now got five forwards who can all make an impact and we’re looking fairly strong in all areas, so there’s plenty to be excited about.”

Having had a career in the top flight, Price knows the game as well as anybody, and is realistic about the level.

He said: “We like to play a 4-5-1 against the better sides which then turns more into a 4-3-3 against the teams around us.

“We’ll pass it when we can and want to entertain, but there’ll be times when we need to stretch the opposition and get in behind, but as I keep saying, we should be much better than last year.

“Progress for us would probably be tenth or 11th and then you can start thinking about how to break into the top six the year after.

“Wendron are the model for a club like ourselves who don’t have the biggest budget, so it goes to show what can be done when you give things time.

“We know it could be a tough start but we’ve got a genuinely great spirit throughout the squad and hopefully will be competitive against everyone in the division."