Harrold: Competition for places with get my firing

Last season’s topscorer penned a new one-year deal earlier this month with a year’s extra option.

He netted nine times in 39 appearances last term despite cutting an isolated figure up front for much of the season.

Aside from loanee Rhys Murphy, Harrold was the only real goalscorer at the club’s disposal as they held onto their place in League Two.

But things are expected to be different next term, with head coach Dermot Drummy hoping to bring in more forwards, something Harrold is relishing.

He said: It’ll be interesting as I think the way the gaffer will play it might be one out- and-out striker. It will be interesting on how we go with that, but I expected forwards to sign, you always do.

“I did not expect to be the only forward player or striker so I welcome the competition. I think it’s good for all the players.

“It’s not always ideal if you know you are going play, you need that competition, you need to be pushed in training and stuff like that, it brings the best of you on a match day.”

The tall forward is also open to playing with or without a strike partner, adding: “I have not really got a major preference, I think it all depends on how you play as a team. You can play with two up front and still be isolated or one up front and be isolated.

“It’s about getting people near you and having a good understanding throughout the forward players. I have played in teams that have got promoted with playing one up top and I have done well with two up top and three. It’s one of those things and about teams gelling together.

“I think for large parts of the season the team was really good. I was playing up there with Rhys Murphy and some of the other forwards we had.

“I don’t want to make it sound like everything was awful as for a large part of the season we did ok for a team with not a great budget who had just been relegated.

“Towards the end it did become fairly tough up there, but I don’t really want to make excuses. Staying up was sort of an achievement.”

Having missed the end of last season due to undergoing a knee operation, Harrold hopes it will not hinder him next season.

He added: “It’s been ok. I had a coaching course for two weeks when I was on my feet a lot and it took me back a week or so. I am looking to go into pre-season and train and not miss any of it.

“You have got to take each day as it comes in terms of how much load do you put through it, but I am really confident as so is the doctor and physio that it will be fine.”