Page looking forward to having '˜total control' of Cobblers players at Loughborough University

DOWN TO WORK - Rob Page took charge of his first training session as Cobblers boss on Friday (Picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Town, who returned to training last Friday, will be based at their revamped Moulton College base for the next five days, ahead of Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly at UCL Premier Division side Sileby Rangers.

But following the match at Fernie Fields, Page and his squad will make the short trip to north for a training camp at Loughborough University, with everbody staying on campus.

And the new Cobblers manager is looking forward to having ‘total control’ of his players and how they live for 24 hours a day.

Many clubs travel abroad for training camps, but the Cobblers are staying pretty close to home, and that was a similar story to 12 months ago when Chris Wilder took the squad to Brighton for a week.

It is also something Page has done in the past, and he believes it works.

“Going back to the Coventry City days when I was with John Harbin and Iain Dowie, we went to Bath University and stayed on the campus,” said the Cobblers boss.

“We used the sports village there, and although the pitches weren’t great, the facilities were exceptional and we had a great week.

“We are looking at Loughborough, and we (Port Vale) trained their last season en-route to London, and the Nike Academy used to train there.

“They have gone to St George’s Park now, but the pitches are still maintained to a top standard, so the pitches are exceptional.

“Plus there is the pool and the gym, so to be able to go there and just be in total control of the players 24/7 means we can get the majority of our work done there.

“It is only four or five days, but it will be a great few days using great facilities and I know we will go there and have a good week.”

It is also a great chance for the new players that have been signed to really get to know their squad-mates.

“We will be living on campus and it will be an opportunity for the players to get together,” added Page.

“They will eat together, they will be training together and we will split the training groups up so there will be the opportunity for them to get to know each other, and I think that is a big part of it when you bring a few faces in.”