Thordarson's tough training routine proves popular

After being appointed as Notts boss in May, Thordarson immediately spoke of his desire to see hard-work from his men.

Thordarson: Tough

And since his new team returned to pre-season training around a month ago, the Iceman has certainly gone some way to drilling this message into the Magpies' players.

Thor has repeatedly called the players in for double sessions - the usual training session in the morning doubled up with another in the afternoon - designed solely to get the Notts players fitter for when the new season begins.

It is all a far cry from frequent days off under player/boss Ian Richardson towards the end of last campaign, but surprisingly - if the views of Chris Palmer and Steve Scoffham are anything to go by - the Magpies are actually enjoying Thordarson's new hard-line regime.

"Every day has been a double session, except the day before Saturday's friendly," Scoffham told the Nottingham Evening Post.

"You ache, but we don't mind because you get the benefits and soon we are going to be able to run all day.

"People have seen the way we are playing under the new gaffer and it is clicking together.

"We are confident. The players talk to him and you can share a joke with him.

"He has got his way of doing things and that may mean long days, but they are enjoyable.

"But he knows how to get what he wants out of you and if you do not do it he will come down on you. You know when he says to do something, you get it done."

Perhaps more surprisingly though, winger Palmer also gave the thumbs-up to the new regime in an interview with the Notts official site.

Palmer: Happy

The talented former Derby man, who proved somewhat work-shy in his first campaign with the Magpies last year, admitted that all the hard work was likely to prove worthwhile.

"It is hard, but we are getting fitter and fitter, so it is worthwhile for us," said the 21-year-old.

"By the start of the season, hopefully it will work in our favour.

"I think there was quite a few of us who weren't used to the double sessions and having to be in for afternoons, but one you get into the swing of things it's fine. The lads enjoy it and that is the main thing."

Alongside Thordarson, new assistant boss Ross MacLaren is also keen to see the County players getting fitter, with the former Derby & Villa assistant admitting at Friday's fans' forum that he was shocked at the level of the players' fitness when he arrived at the club.

The immediate signs of the double sessions were there for all to see on Saturday, with the Magpies beating League One Gillingham 2-1 at Meadow Lane with an all-action display.