Brentford FC Chief Executive Mark Devlin has outlined some of the work that has taken place in order to prepare for the upcoming Sky Bet Championship season.
The start of the 2015/16 season is just four weeks away and Brentford’s six-week close season came to an end this week as the players returned for pre-season training.
During a lengthy interview with Bees PlayerHD, Mark detailed the work that had gone on during the break in order to make the shift from 2014/15 – when Brentford finished fifth in the Championship and reached the Play-Offs – to the new campaign.
“The summer is about planning,” said Mark
“We get the stadium and the staffing structure off the field right for the new season.
“In our case the Play-Offs finished, we had some charity and corporate games and the pitch was dug up.
“Some cabling went down from one corner to the other diagonally to allow us to introduce a giant screen.
“We were also cabled to introduce LED advertising if we want to in the future.
“Griffin Park does not have good drainage and we dug deeper and put new drainage in.
“That means it has taken longer.
“That has been matched by work at the Training Ground at Jersey Road, there are renovations to the two show pitches there.
“We had problems with the pitches retaining water and have new drainage.
“Those new training surfaces will be available from mid-August.
“We have upgraded the ticketing system, we have done enhancements on the access control system.
“We have also launched Season Tickets and have a major campaign with a push to get as close to our target as possible.”
Brentford’s season went on for two weeks longer than most of their opponents as they lost to Middlesbrough in the Play-Offs.
Mark said that meant there were some challenges.
“With Season Tickets we decided to only go on sale to people who renewed,” he said.
“If we had been successful in the Play-Offs, new Season Ticket Holders would have paid more.
“This was to reward those who had been with us in the Championship, League One and League Two.
“The games against Middlesbrough didn’t go our way and we went on sale.
“It also affected the pitch renovations, they would have started earlier.
“We had to keep it open for the Play-Off games.”
The first game at Griffin Park will be in three weeks when Stoke City visit for a pre-season friendly.
The opening two games of the competitive season are also at Griffin Park with Ipswich Town visiting on the first day of the Sky Bet Championship season and Oxford United following three days later in the Capital One Cup.
“Grass is growing quickly on the pitch,” said Mark.
“All the stress testing, making sure the stadium complies with the safety certificates, has been done.
“The pitch will be ready for the Stoke game and in even better condition on 8 August.
“Everything will be ready for the Stoke game.”
Mark said he hoped The Bees would also be in their new home kit that day.
“There have been issues with the new kit,” he admitted.
“This is not adidas’ fault, it has taken us time to agree the new sponsorship logo, we have a new sponsor.
“Getting that right has delayed the process.
“We hope the team will play against Stoke in the new kit.”
The full video interview can be seen on Bees PlayerHD and more from Mark Devlin will be on www.brentfordfc.co.uk tomorrow.