Stuart Pearce officially takes charge at the City Ground on Tuesday having already made three new signings in the shape of Matty Fryatt, Lars Veldwijk and Louis Laing.
Although the return of such a popular player was always going to generate goodwill, optimism seems to have grown slowly since the end of the season with the appointment of an experienced backroom team in Steve Wigley and Brian Eastick and a trio of new arrivals that combine ready-made experience in Fryatt, huge potential in Laing and a wildcard in the shape of Dutch striker Veldwijk.
Pearce's stature will buy him a bit more time than usual as the rebuilding of bridges between the club and those outside (including the media) continues. If he remains in place on 1 July 2015 it should mean that the season has gone well for both the manager and his team.
***Update*** Tim Flowers (goalkeeping coach) and John Marshall (head of recruitment) have joined Pearce's backroom team.