TORQUAY United's Welsh defender Chris Todd will get stuck into pre-season training next week with a double-mission in mind — making his mark as a Football League centre-half AND winning his ongoing battle against leukaemia.

The rest of Todd's promotion-winning teammates may have been able to 'switch off' for the last six weeks, since that memorable day against Cambridge United at Wembley.

But Todd has continued to push himself in training, while continuing his chemotherapy treatment.

"I'm fine — feeling really good," reported Todd, 27.

"The treatment has gone extremely well these last few weeks.

"In fact, the doctors seem to think that, if everything keeps going well, in about three months' time I might get back into remission and, hopefully, come off the tablets."

The ex-Swansea City and Exeter City defender added: "I've kept up my running, and extra training on top, since the end of the season.

"In fact, my fitness is good, and I'm raring to get back with the lads next week."

The next few weeks will be busy ones for Todd.

He is working on a book, charting the extraordinary story of his 2008-2009 season.

In only six months Todd experienced enough personal drama to last most people a lifetime.

The book starts on the day last November when he was told he had leukaemia, then covers the early stages of his fight against the disease, his January wedding to longtime partner Gemma, his remarkable playing comeback — on loan at Salisbury — only three months after his diagnosis and then, of course, his return to United's first team and the run-in to promotion at Wembley.

"I've more or less finished the book, and I'm just tackling the business of getting it out," said Chris.

"The plan is to give a good percentage of the proceeds to leukaemia research."

Also coming up shortly is the first date of United's pre-season programme — a Todd-inspired charity friendly against Peninsula League club Buckland Athletic at Newton Abbot's Homers Heath ground next Thursday, July 9 (7.30pm).

Then it will be the build-up to United's return to League Two action against Chesterfield on August 8.

Meanwhile, two players who appeared against the Gulls more than most last season have now joined new division rivals Crewe Alexandra.

Mat Mitchel-King, captain of BSP Play-Off side Histon last season, has followed the Stutes' ex-Exeter defender Patrick Ada to Gresty Road.

Back in the BSP Ebbsfleet United trio Michael Gash, Darius Charles and Neil Barrett have joined York City for a combined fee of £80,000 after the Fleet's MyFootballClub website 'members' finally approved the sale last week.

Former Scarborough, Colchester, Oldham and Huddersfield manager Mick Wadsworth has been appointed as the new boss of relegated Chester City.

At Plainmoor, United season-ticket holders — more than 1,200 of them after the club's highly successful 'cut-price' offer — can collect their tickets from 10am today.