Darren Ferguson is looking forward to pre-season and has confirmed several alterations to his management team.

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson is looking forward to the beginning of pre-season training with the players reporting to London Road on Monday morning.

The Posh boss has also confirmed the departures of coach Eoin Jess and Head of Sports Science Ben Mackenzie. Gary Breen and Jimmy Walker have both signed two-year deals after short stints with the club at the back end of last season.

Ferguson told theposh.com: 'Gary and Jimmy came in last year and they both did very well for us. Gary has a good manner about him, he was a defender all of his career so in terms of coaching that will really help us and definitely did last season.

'I replaced Barry Richardson with Jimmy and he fitted in very well. He has a good character, is extremely bubbly and is good at his job. They are two good additions and will work well with the players.

'I always felt that after suffering relegation, we would have to look at our staff in terms of numbers and I totally understand that. In Ben Mackenzie's case, it was a mutual thing, I think he wanted to move on and I was quite happy for that to be the case in the end.

'With Eoin, it was more of a financial thing. There was no way I could keep all of the staff I had together. It was unfortunate, he has moved on now and as I said, Gary is more of a defensive coach and Kevin Russell will stick to his assistant manager role.

'Chris Burton, the physiotherapist, will have more of a say in the Sports Science department, and we will promote people from within to assist and I am happy with that. I am always quite pro-active in promoting from within.

'The one area we need to improve on is in terms of injuries. We had too many muscle injuries last year and that is a key area for us in pre-season and throughout the campaign to keep on top of. There are changes, but nothing too dramatic. I understand the decisions have to be made from a financial point of view and I am happy with that. It is part and parcel of football,' Ferguson said.

The squad will return to pre-season for fitness testing on Monday and Tuesday before fitness and ball work for the rest of the week. Ferguson said: 'The players will be in on Monday and we will have a look at them fitness wise and run our normal testing programme.

'They will then work hard for the rest of the week with injury prevention stuff in the morning and ball work in the afternoons. I am looking forward to getting started,  I have had a good rest in the summer and can't wait to get started now,' Ferguson said.