Steve Coppell has vowed that his new City side will "hit the ground running" at the start of the season.
The new City boss spoke to bcfc.co.uk following the announcement of the club's home friendly against Premier League newcomers Blackpool on Saturday, July 31st.
And he said the pre-season programme, which starts when the players report back for training on July 1st will be good "test" for his new squad ahead of kick-off proper on August 7th.
He said: "We have to hit the ground running at the start of the season. I know the core of the team here is good.
"I have watched the majority of the games from last season but by the time everyone returns for pre-season I will have watched all the games.
"I have a good idea of the squads capabilities and I know the core is as sound as it can be.
"But we cannot concede as many goals and we need to score more goals. You can not be a successful side leaking 60 goals a season - can we improve on not conceding 60 goals? I should hope so."
City kick-off their pre-season programme with a tour of Sweden in mid-July and Steve added: "I wanted the games to get harder as we progressed, if I am honest the games we have in Sweden are too strong too early, I am a little bit mindful of that.
"Blackpool's achievement in winning the play-offs has given every Championship club hope. They have shown what can be done when you believe in what you are doing and play attacking football."
"They (the Swedish teams) are in mid-season and the game against us will not be a high priority for them but it is a good alternative to their training regime. We are always saying how good the English Leagues are technically, this maybe a good time to test that out.
"Physically the Swedish teams will be better than us, it will be stupid of me to try and aim to match them physically. I will have to be clever in bringing players on and off. I do not expect us to be on the top of our game during early July, that is not the aim of these games the aim to get as fit as possible."
Following the Sweden tour City will play a series of away friendlies against their West Country rivals before a home match against newly-promoted Blackpool.
And Steve commented: "We have a series of fixtures arranged against League Two and League One sides and we needed to step things up for the final warm-up game.
"Blackpool are now a Premier League club and I'm sure they will provide us with the kind of test we require a week before the season kicks off.
"Ian Holloway has done a fantastic job up there and Blackpool's achievement in winning the play-offs has given every Championship club hope. They have shown what can be done when you believe in what you are doing and play attacking football."
"It was difficult finding suitable opposition because of the managerial hand-over at the end of last season.
"That meant there was a delay in planning pre-season and, by the time we looked at it, a lot of the bigger clubs were already committed.
"But Blackpool will be good opposition for us and it's a game which should prove attractive to the supporters."
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