RADCLIFFE Borough officially kick off a new era in the club's history when they host a Bolton Wanderers XI on Saturday.

Since the decision of previous chairman Bernard Manning Jnr to step down at the end of last season it has been all change over the summer.

A total of 19 new players will run out at the newly named Taurus Park at a club now led by new chairman Paul Hilton and new manager Bill Prendergast.

Newly-installed captain Jack Hindle will at least be a familiar face as one of only four players who decided to stay and fight for his place in the team following the departure of previous boss Danny Johnson.

He has been rewarded for his show of loyalty with a contract, as well the captaincy.

Prendergast is eager to get the new era up and running and has issued an open invitation to people living in the town and the surrounding area to take a fresh look at what Boro have to offer.

"I have a simple philosophy," he said. "I want to play football on the front foot and take the game to the opposition.

"I believe it is better to win eight games and lose two than win five and draw five. You get more points that way.

"So we are not going to sit back, and I have recruited a squad of players with that same philosophy, who want to play on the front foot.

"But football is nothing without fans to cheer a team on and we are going to work hard to build up the club's fanbase.

"So I am not asking for local people to take my word for it.

"I want them to come down to the ground on Saturday and see what this club has to offer."

The chairman has backed Prendergast's vision to the hilt, bringing in a new ground sponsor, the Taurus Security Group, and shirt sponsor, footballers' charity XPRO.

Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell, who is an ambassador for both companies, is also taking a keen interest in the bid to revitalise the club's fortunes in Evo-Stik First Division North.

Hilton says the ex-Premier League star is acting as an important link to the rest of the footballing community and has also given his own input into the formation of the new squad.

Key to that has been a new financial approach, with a handful of players signed up on contracts for the first time in the club's recent history.

Hindle was one of the first beneficiaries of that new approach.

"Jack instantly bought into our philosophy and he has been rewarded for that loyalty," added Prendergast.

"He was the first player we signed, I made him captain and have worked closely with him throughout pre-season.

"We have been back for five weeks already and the players cannot wait to get going.

"So I am inviting people to come down and have a look at what we are doing here."

Saturday's match against Bolton kicks off at 3pm, and there are further pre-season friendlies planned at home to Runcorn Linnets on July 21, a Rochdale XI on July 26 and Bury XI on July 29.