CHIPPENHAM Rugby coach Hentie Martens says the upcoming season is about laying the foundations from which they can successfully build on in future season.

In their first campaign in South West One, the club finished bottom of the table but avoided relegation due to league re-structuring.

Now in the newly re-vamped National Three South West, they visit Reading in the opening game of the season on Saturday after a 24-24 draw with Gilfach Goch in their final friendly at the weekend.

“Pre-season hasn’t really gone that well but we’ve improved in the last two games,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of players away and it’s been a bit of a mixture but I think the first game will be exciting.

“I’ve played against Reading when I was at Cleve. They like to spend a bit of money and I think they’ll be a good team this year.

“After last year we want to improve and stay out of the bottom three. We need to establish ourselves over the next few years as we have some good young players and our development squad is looking good.”

James Gaiger left the club in the summer to re-join Devizes but Martens has brought in exciting outside centre John Squire, scrum-half Tim Denning and full-back Chris Crome to bolster his squad.

“Every team is a bit unsure at the start of the season but I am optimistic,” he said.

“You can’t just buy a team to win games as you need spirit and that is something we have at Chippenham.”