The Jockeys started pre-season training at Exning FC last week, fresh from bouncing back from the First Division, as champions, at the first attempt.

Although Johnson had seven new players joining the session, he intends to add no more than three new recruits by the time the season starts on August 8.

“I don’t want to make massive changes,” said the Jockeys manager. “I want to keep faith with the players that have got us there.

“We had a squad of about 13 or 14 players who played week in, week out, last season and it would be a shame to break that up. Sometimes people think they need to make big changes after getting promoted and it has a negative affect.

“We had a fantastic dressing room and team spirit last season and I want to keep that.”

Johnson insists he will keep faith with his trio of veteran defenders, Colin Vowden (who is also now assistant manager), Ricky Cornish and Andy Eady but admits they may not be able to play in every game.

Right-back Adam Murray is expected to get more chances in his favoured centre-back position and Johnson also hopes to sign another young centre-back before the season starts, to learn from the old heads at the back.

Johnson wants to bring in an experienced striker to bolster his striking options.

Haverhill Rovers frontman Martin Westcott has claimed he turned down a move to Town but Johnson said it was no more than an offer to join the club for pre-season training.

The Newmarket manager also aims to add a utility player.

The club do not intend to have any players on contracts in the forthcoming season and were not able to register any players until after last Saturday’s Ridgeons League AGM.

The only player from the title-winning squad to tell Johnson he will not be re-signing is former AFC Sudbury midfielder Paul Betson, who joined the Jockeys at the tail-end of last season.

Betson has accepted an offer of a contract from Premier Division rivals Norwich United and Johnson said there were no bad feelings.

The Jockeys manager said: “It’s a massive loss, as he is a good player and did fantastically well for us. But I don’t blame him for accepting the offer and he is welcome to come back whenever he wants.”

After suffering relegation in his first season, after taking over midseason, and then winning promotion in his first full season, Johnson said he would settle for a less dramatic campaign this time around.

The Town boss said: “I don’t want us to be involved in a relegation battle. If we can finish mid-table, it would be a good first season back for us.”

Newmarket have confirmed three pre-season friendlies so far, all at home.

They will play St Ives Town on Tuesday, July 21, Yaxley, on Friday, July 24 and Broxbourne on Saturday, August 1.

The Ridgeons League fixtures will be released on July 24, with the opening day of the season on August 8.