KEITH Wilson wants to get the new Essex Senior League season under way.

The Burnham Ramblers manager’s side entertain Enfield 1893 in the opening fixture of the new campaign on Saturday at Leslie Field.

However, Wilson was hoping to be further along with his preparations and feels he is still some way away from picking his finalised squad.

Ramblers travelled to Broad Lane to take on Wivenhoe Town in their final pre-season game on Tuesday night.

And it was the home side that ran out 1-0 winners.

Wilson said: “To be honest I would have hoped to be further along than at this point. I had hoped to have had what I thought my final starting line-up and formation would be in place by Tuesday’s final pre-season at Wivenhoe Town.

“But I had a few players who couldn’t make the game and a couple of others with a few niggles.

“It’s not ideal. I have seven or eight players in mind to start on Saturday but I am still thinking about the other places.

“But we will have a light training session tonight, go through a few drills and patterns of play and then sit down with the coaches and discuss the formation. I will listen to what they have to say and have it firmed up by Friday afternoon at the latest.

“At the end of the day it is my name that is above the door.

“But it will be good to get the real games under way.

“To be fair, having to pick 16 players for the squad on a match day will force my hand. Hopefully, with the five subs we will have all options covered. I want to get the season under way and get a settled side.

“I don’t know much about Enfield but by Saturday we will be good to go.”

Burnham’s latest string of pre-season friendlies saw a 5-1 defeat against Thurlow Nunn League premier division Brantham Athletic last Tuesday night.

They then entertained Essex Olympian League’s premier division side Kelvedon Hatch last Thursday night, winning 3-1, before losing 1-0 to visiting Aveley from Ryman Division North on Saturday.

Wilson said: “We took a triallist side to Brantham last Tuesday and I learnt pretty much what I expected to.

“It was unfortunate in the Kelvedon game that they had a player sent off.

“The referee had no choice really, the player stopped the ball on the line with his hand.

“But it didn’t do us any good and it didn’t do Kelvedon any good either.

“We didn’t really learn a lot from that game.

“Saturday was a better performance but we didn’t really look like scoring.

“I think we may have taken one step forward and two back but we are still building.”