Billy Smith admits he will have to work his magic this pre-season to put together a Tooting & Mitcham side that can challenge in the Ryman Premier League after having his first-team squad slashed to just 15 players.

The Imperial Fields outfit have disbanded their reserve side for the coming campaign, electing to throw all their resources into the development of an Academy.

And Smith reveals the move has added a new dimension to his summer preparations.

He said: “I have 22 guys in training at the moment but obviously I am going to have to cut some loose.

“The budget has not been cut for this season but it is a very ordinary one.

“With the academy the club wants the most promising players to move into the first team on a weekly basis, so I am relying on the academy coaches being my eyes and ears.

“I think we can safely say that this will be a long, hard season for us but we have to get on with it.

“We just have to work on bringing out the best in everybody - after all my job has always been to make people better players and then other clubs come in for them.”

The Terrors get the pre-season schedule off to a glamorous start this Saturday when Championship side Reading pay a visit, promising to field their first team, which may include former Tooting favourite Michail Antonio.

Smith added: “The good thing about it is it is a game that we can really enjoy.

“It is not the end of the world if we get beaten but if we could win everyone will feel like they are ten feet tall.

“We seem to do well against the bigger sides and it will be great to get a big crowd for the occasion.”