Rotherham United boss Paul Warne has confirmed that he will take his 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship squad to Croatia as part of their pre-season training plans ahead of the new campaign.
The Millers manager joined the club’s travel partners for a day-trip to the now-booked facility last week, during which time he assessed the facilities on-site, whilst also mapping-out a couple of routes for the gruelling early morning runs which have become synonymous with his side’s pre-season training plans.
The club are yet to announce any pre-season friendlies on English shores, but provisional plans have been made with opponents, which are now awaiting the exchange of friendly agreements before being publicised.
Warne is scheduled to take his Millers charges overseas for seven days in the first week of July (2nd - 9th), where the hard work will once again really get into gear ahead of the new campaign.
The Millers boss’ pre-season training camps have become notorious for laying the foundations of fitness for the long season ahead and you can expect the players to be put through a similar workload as they prepare for another tilt at second tier football in 2022/23.
Speaking to www.themillers.co.uk on a closed season day on which Warne had assembled his staff to discuss recruitment targets among other ongoing summer issues, Warne explained that he had been impressed with the facilities at the venue and is looking forward to jetting off to put his players through their paces in a few weeks’ time.
"I went out to Croatia to have a look at the training camp there. It was really good but I wanted to do a recce to get a couple of runs in to make sure they have one when we're out there. I've sorted those out,” he revealed.
The Millers boss - and self-confessed fitness 'freak' - is not one to shirk getting stuck in with pre-season himself
"I saw the facilities and was really pleased with them.
"We haven't been to Croatia on pre-season before and it's a big deal for us because that stage of pre-season is always a big week for us."
"I flew out last week for a day and came back. I'm really happy with that and we've got it all booked up now.
"I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to coming back for pre-season just yet but it is always nice when you know that you've got a trip and you get the lads together. It's essential for us.”
The first team are likely to report for their first day of training around a week to 10 days before heading for sunnier climes and Warne is conscious of the fact that the overseas trip is important in ensuring that the training regime does not get monotonous for his players.
"That will be something for the lads to turn their attentions to after the first week of hell when they return!” Warne joked.
"It will be good to see the physical demands. If you can train in heat and play in it then obviously your body is more accustomed to stress when you come back and play when it is freezing."
"Also there is an opportunity to train at night because they've got floodlights at the facility and, in fairness, when we've trained in Germany and Austria we had days when it was absolutely scorchio.
"It's weeks away and it could rain every day, but if they have to train in the heat, they have to train in the heat and adapt to that."
As mentioned above, dates for the Millers pre-season fixtures - including any games which will potentially be played overseas - will be confirmed and announced on www.themillers.co.uk, once all of the relevant friendly agreements have been exchanged and signed by our opponents.