DETERMINED Dudley Kingswinford Director of Rugby Carl Douglas says his side will be going all out for promotion this season.

The new DK chief, who took over from the joint head coaching team of Shaun Perry and player Peter Knight following last season's relegation, is planning for an immediate return to National League Two North on the eve of the new campaign.

The Heathbrook outfit will begin life in National League Three Midlands with an away trip to Sandback this Saturday.

Douglas said: "Our aspirations are to challenge for promotion. It is not going to be easy but we are fully prepared and more than capable of doing that."

The former London Welsh and Worcester coach has been working with the majority of last season's squad and has praised the team's efforts in pre-season.

"The players have been back since mid-May and I can't fault their commitment at all," he added. "I asked them to come back early and since then we have made significant progress and are all clear on how we want to play the game.

"It's not easy when you have been relegated but I think everyone has reacted really well.

"Everyone at the club was disappointed about last season and everything that happened, but I have been impressed with the desire that has been shown by both the committee and playing staff to turn that around."

Douglas, whose role includes overseeing the youth section, 16-19 rugby and funding and administration as well as the senior set-up, says he has irons in the fire to bring a few new faces to the squad but is happy to start the campaign with the players at his disposal.

"Sandbach is a tough start to the season but we are determined to hit the ground running," he said. "Pre-season has gone really well. We are ready for the season and couldn't have prepared better."

DK will follow up their opening away day by welcoming Scunthorpe to Heathbrook on September 13 before travelling to South Leicester on September 20.