Brentford manager Mark Warburton said he and his squad are looking forward to the challenge of second tier football in the Sky Bet Championship.

Warburton guided The Bees to the second tier in his first foray into football management as they finished runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Sky Bet League One last season.

It will be Brentford’s first season in the second tier of English football since 1992/93 and Mark said his team need to enjoy the challenge and the extra spotlight that will be on them this campaign.

Speaking to Bees Player on the eve of the new season Mark said he was pleased with his team’s preparations ahead of the new season and thinks that they can make a real impression on the Championship.

“The boys have got to enjoy and relish it,” said Mark.

“This season coming is a challenge for everyone on a number of fronts and I think we have to be prepared for that challenge and to embrace it and I think we are.

“The media aspect is great and it is about showing the club in the right light and getting the results we want to attract the media.

“We said last season that if the media queue is a mile long outside then we are doing something right.

“We will go into the games, prepare and hopefully get the right results and move forward.

“The players are training really well and they are just waiting for Saturday now.

“It has been a long pre-season: you look back to the Preston North End game and the Stevenage game and that time has flown by.

“They have worked hard and they are well prepared and they are now just waiting for the weekend.

“I am happy with where we are.

“The recent games have demonstrated the fitness levels of the players and that is all credit to the medical and conditioning staff and all the work they have done over pre-season.

“The IMG trip to Florida worked really well for us and the players came back in great shape and I am delighted with that aspect of the preparation.

“Our performances have been good in pre-season.

“Crystal Palace was good and it was the perfect domestic test for us against high-quality opposition.

“Hopefully now we are in good shape and prepared for Charlton.

“The training is good, the intensity is good but there is a bit of trepidation.

“This is a new challenge: many of them have not played in the Championship and they will find out a lot about themselves.

“The belief that we, as staff, have in the players is undoubted and I’m sure they will make a real impression.”

The Bees begin their campaign in the Sky Bet Championship with a home game against Charlton Athletic at Griffin Park on Saturday.

The Addicks spent much of last season in a relegation battle before a strong run of form in April lifted them to safety.

Despite flirting with danger for much of last season Mark is still wary of the quality and experience in their squad.

Mark said he will stick to The Bees philosophy of focusing on their strengths rather than the strengths of the opposition but admits that The Bees will need to be more aware of opposition plans given the step up in division.

“Charlton will be very organised,” said Mark.

“We have watched them many times and I am sure they have watched us many times as well.

“They like the pass the ball and they have some very talented players.

“They have experienced players for the division and it will be a real test for us on Saturday and we have to make sure that we are prepared for it and in the right frame of mind.

“We are looking forward to the challenge.

“We will always focus on what we do best but the players will demand more detail.

“I think it is important that we get the opposition analysis right.

“Last year we would literally spend two minutes on the opposition and the rest on Brentford.

“This year we will look more at the threats that they pose, their key individuals and the threats they pose from set-pieces.

“Our overriding thought will always be to do what we do well and how that will impact the opposition.”

Ahead of the new season Brentford have added to their attacking options with the signings of Tommy Smith and Nick Proschwitz.

34-year-old Smith joins from Cardiff and brings a wealth of Championship experience to a young Brentford squad, having played all but one of his 491 league games in the Premier League or second-tier.

Proschwitz made the move south from Hull City this week and Mark thinks that the 6’ 3” striker will bring another dimension to Brentford’s attacking options.

“Tommy Smith is a quality act both on and off the pitch,” said Mark.

“He adds a layer of quality and experience and I am delighted that Tommy has come down.

“All Tommy was lacking was fitness and all Tommy wanted to do was to prove to us and to himself that he could get that fitness back.

“Over the last three weeks he has worked really hard in training and has improved dramatically in terms of his fitness levels.

“I am delighted to have Tommy on board and I am delighted that the parties have come together.

“All credit is due to Tommy and his agent Steve Kutner for the way the deal was done.

“This was never about money, it was about getting the right thing for Tommy in terms of football, which was a nice and an unusual outcome.

“You have to take friendship out of the equation.

“I know Tommy from the time at Watford and he is a great guy.

“He still has to come to us and prove to himself and the club that he is up to the challenge.

“His hunger has been demonstrated from day one in the manner which he has worked.

“He is a quality player and can play across that front region.

“He offers us another choice and I am delighted to have him.

“We always talked about adding value to the squad and adding something that isn’t already there.

“There is no point replicating what we already have.

“Scott Hogan and Andre Gray are quick and strong and hungry which is great to see.

“Nick is more experienced and has had an excellent career in Germany before going to Hull and then on loan last year.

“He is 6’ 3” and a great aerial threat but he also has a good first touch and an eye for goal.

“I am delighted to get Nick; he is a great acquisition for us and he will have a key role for us in the months ahead.”

The latter stages of The Bees build-up to the season have been dominated by the future of last season’s Sky Bet League One Player of the Year Adam Forshaw.

Forshaw has been the subject of two bids from a Championship club since he returned from an ankle injury in July.

The 22-year-old scored eight goals in 40 games for Brentford last season before picking up the top prize in League One.

Mark admits that all the talk surrounding the former Everton man has been unsettling but he said that no player will leave Griffin Park unless the club’s valuations are met.

“Bids come in for players and they may move or they may not move,” said Mark.

“We didn’t want to sell Adam in the first place but if we are going to sell a player then he goes on our terms not the bidding club’s terms.

“We have a valuation for Adam and the bidding club has come nowhere near that level.

“At the moment the boy’s head has been turned and that is only natural, it is nothing against Adam.

“He is a great young player who has done great for Brentford but the fact is that this interest has turned his head.

“Our only focus is Brentford Football Club and the first-team and nothing can distract us from that.

“The supporters need to know that we will always do the best for the football club.

“If the club comes in and meets our valuation and Adam wants to go then he will go, if not Adam is going nowhere.

“He has got two years left to run on his contract and that is the situation.

“It is a difficult situation but nothing can impact on our preparations for Saturday and the games going forward.

“People ask me why Adam has been off for a couple days but the most important thing for us is our preparation and Brentford Football Club.

“No individual is bigger than the team and that will always be our focus.

“From the owner to Frank McParland, David Weir and myself we know what we think is right to do and it will come down to whether we get the right interest and if we don’t then Adam has got a choice to make.

“It speaks volume for the club that we are now attracting this level of interest in our players.

“We have always got to do the right thing by Brentford.

“I’m not saying that people don’t leave, they do all the time, but they leave on our terms and nobody else’s terms.”