Evo Stik Division One North
Grant Black has led Ossett Town out of the abyss and turned them into promotion candidates since taking over in February 2016
Grant Black is very pleased with how the summer has gone at Ossett Town on the training ground and in the transfer market.
Black, the most highly-rated young manager in the Evo Stik, is heading into second full season in charge at Ingfield.
Because of departures – most notably Jason Yates, Tyrone Gay and Danny Frost – Black has had to sign Kai Hancock, Alex Low and Curtly Martin-Wyatt as replacements.
One more player could sign later this week, but Black says Ossett did not need to go overboard with signings.
“Pre-season, touch wood, has gone really well so far,” Black told Non League Yorkshire.
“We started back on the 24th June and we have trained hard. The lads are looking fit and strong.
“Now the games have started, we can putting some of the things we have done in training into games.
“What we have done in training definitely showed against (Bradford Park) Avenue.
“We have lost a couple of players, but we’ve said all along that we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.
“What we had we have kept together, barring one-or-two. We have lost Tyrone Gay, but we have Alex Low and he wouldn’t have looked out of place playing for Bradford (Park Avenue) after seeing tonight’s performance.
“We’re going about our business nice and quietly, but I don’t think we have to do so much.”
Ossett continued their pre-season schedule with the narrow defeat to Bradford (Park Avenue) at Ingfield.
Black was encouraged by his side’s display.
“I was really pleased with the performance against a National North outfit,” he said.
“I knew how Bows (Mark Bower) and Bosh (Danny Boshell) play and I think Bradford (Park Avenue) will do really well in the National League North this season.
“I spoke to Bows over the weekend and he said he was bringing his strongest team and he was true to his word.
“So for us to compete and compete really well against them is very pleasing for us.”