Most football managers would kill for the sort of summer enjoyed by Matt Clements.

The new Godmanchester Rovers chief has stepped up two levels from the Cambs Premier Division, inherited a high-class squad, added further quality players and guided his side through a series of pre-season friendlies unbeaten.

It all means Rovers go into Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division battle at Brantham this Saturday in confident mood of bettering a 2014/15 campaign which featured a runners-up finish and culminated in Hunts Senior Cup success in the final match of previous bosses Nev Nania and Matty Haniver’s reign.

“It couldn’t really have gone any better,” admitted Clements, a top athlete in his youth who also enjoyed a brief professional football career at Cambridge United.

“There is still a great buzz among the squad after what they achieved last season and hopefully I can get a bit more out of them going forward.

“They have been very receptive of my ideas and I’m confident in my ability as a coach and a motivator.

“I’m not going to try to be coy about our hopes for this season. Everyone knows we want to be up there challenging and I believe we have the quality to do that.

“The first objective is to be in the top four at Christmas and then kick on from there. We are not here to mess about.

“I told the chairman when taking the job that I want to get the club promoted within two years.

“Obviously I would love to do it at the first time of asking, but I won’t cry if that doesn’t happen.”

Clements, who managed Hardwick in the last three seasons, has drafted in four new faces.

The Hall twins - defender Jonny and attacking ace James - have returned from St Ives while Simon Unwin and Dan Kerrigan have followed the boss to Bearscoft Lane.

Free-scoring striker Tom Meechan, full-backs Jamie Alsop and George Berkes, and midfielder Matt Bannister have moved on.