Ilford manager Colin Walton has enlisted the help of former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Dalton Grant to boost his players’ fitness during pre-season.

The Foxes threw away several points last season with the concession of late goals becoming a regular habit, as Ilford narrowly avoided relegation.

And Walton is determined to prevent a repeat in the forthcoming campaign, so has drafted in the former British high jumper to help improve the general fitness of his squad and ensure they can maintain their level of performance for the full 90 minutes.

“We’re three weeks into pre-season. We started earlier than most teams this year, because our lack of fitness was a real issue for us last year,” said Walton.

“But we’re determined to change that and we’re working hard. Dalton Grant has got the boys training hard, everyone will get fit under him, he won’t let them get away with anything less.

“Everyone will get their equal chance to shine in pre-season and we’ll be ready come the first game on August 20. It’s looking promising.”

While last year’s Player of the Season Liam Thomas has moved to Waltham Abbey, 12 of the current squad reported back for pre-season along with 20 triallists.

Walton is also confident of making six new signings, before eventually whittling down his squad to 26 and will use the pre-season friendlies, starting with Frenford Senior on July 23, to give each player their chance to stake a claim for a place in next season’s squad.