The deep end is exactly where new Oxhey Jets manager Lee Stedman has found himself in his first pre-season with the club.

A major overhaul of the squad, which followed what general manager John Elliott labelled the “worst season I can ever remember”, has seen as many as 45 players attending training sessions over the summer, eager to catch the eye of the new boss.

The club even organised five games in 10 days, partly to give their potential signings a run-out, with Stedman keen to run with a squad of around 20 by the time the season gets underway with an FA Cup clash at Burnham on August 6.

Amid trying to run his eye over potential new squad members, keep the club’s remaining old players happy, as well as running his own business, the man who left Kings Langley Reserves to take the reins insists he has enjoyed a bustling summer at the Boundary Stadium.

“We’ve had a really busy pre-season with everything that’s been happening,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of people training – and we do have three teams to fill.

“It’s been nice to have a lot of news faces down at the club and some old ones too. I’m interested in all our players, and everyone will get a fair chance to show what they can do.

“I’ve brought in people from Kings Langley, my old club, as well as some I’ve worked with in football before or come across during my career.

“As well as that, I’ve got a whole new coaching staff. We’re all getting to know one another too, so it’s been another thing to get used to – but it’s been enjoyable.”

There have been countless high-profile examples of teams struggling to make such a summer overhaul work in the early stages of a season.  With efforts already made to integrate the new players as they have come and gone, however, Stedman is confident he’s done all he can.

“It’s something which is in the back of your mind, obviously,” he said. “You don’t want to upset people who have been there a long time, and the new guys need blooding in. We’ve got to push forward, though.

“Some players have come in and then we’ve either let them go or they’ve found other clubs – or just disappeared completely, in some cases – but we’ve worked well with the guys who have come in.

“The five friendlies in 10 days would have helped with that a lot. I think people are really happy with the football we’re playing and are coming down to watch us, and the players are enjoying training.”

It would perhaps have been preferable for Stedman to come into the club in better circumstances – Elliott described the lack of commitment from some players last season as “hopeless” – but the new boss is confident things are changing for the better.

He said: “They had quite a bad time in the last three years and the club deserves to do better. Hopefully I can go down and help them turn it round.  “There’s a good fanbase and support, so we will just try to get some decent football being played. I just want to do the best for the club.”