David Healy has opened up on LInfield's "strange" pre-season and the club's move into full-time football.
The Blues returned to training this week to start preparations for their European campaign.
They kick off their Champions League qualifiers against Lithuanian side Zalgiris Vilnius next month, with Healy hoping his players can hit the ground running when the competitive action gets under way.
Their last game was little over two weeks ago when they brought the curtain down on their double-winning season with a win over Cliftonville on May 29.
The Windsor Park giants have now embarked on a full-time model, one of the early milestones in the club's ambitious five-year strategic plan.
"It has been good. This has been a long time coming and something we have talked about as club, from the board to Pat Fenlon and Willie McKeown," Healy told the club's website.
"And the staff have put a lot of hard work into it, and a lot of thought into it. We didn't just jump into it. There has been a lot of thinking done behind the scenes.
"It has been good over the past couple of days. Of course there will be times when we think we can improve on something. That's natural at any football club.
"It has been refreshing."
Healy has already started reshaping his squad following the departures of some key personnel including Shayne Lavery, Andy Waterworth, Mark Haughey and Mark Stafford.
Joel Cooper has also returned to Oxford United following his loan spell.
Two new players have come in, including defender Sam Roscoe and goalkeeper Jack Ruddy.
"I know quite a few players have moved on at the end of last season. It just seems like a couple of days ago that we were saying our farewells," Healy added.
"It has been a strange one, and pre-season will be a little bit different this year with the short break and short period of time we have had off.
"But again, the players are understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
"And they have come in with a level of fitness and it is about maintaining it and trying to improve by five or 10 per cent over the next two or three weeks.
"And that will lead up to two or three friendly games and then into Europe."
