AFTER a summer of change at Newcastle Falcons, Rob Andrew fired a warning to the rest of Europe last night by insisting: "We are ready for the Heineken Cup."

Falcons' director of rugby is determined to build on the success of last year's Powergen Cup victory and he has made a number of top-class additions in the close-season.

As well as Australian World Cup winner Matthew Burke, the likes of Wales skipper Colin Charvis, Semo Sititi, Andy Long and Luke Gross have all entered through the Kingston Park doors.

Now Andrew is convinced 'the strongest squad' the Falcons have had in the club's professional era - eclipsing that of the side that won the 1998 Premiership crown - can have a major say next season.

The former England star believes his side, who finished fourth bottom last time around, can close the gap on the top four as well as making huge strides in the European elite competition.

The Falcons, seeded sixth of the seven English teams in the Heineken Cup, will find out on Tuesday what group they have been drawn in.

"We have tried to increase the level of experience and we have signed about 240 international caps," said Andrew. "With Luke Gross, Andy Long, Colin Charvis, Semo Sititi and Mike McCarthy in the pack that's five very experienced and very big forwards and they will be a formidable group.

"The fans are pretty excited about the prospects next season and because we will be in the Heineken Cup. We have grown up a lot.

"We are ready for the Heineken Cup and I think we have got a ground and squad ready for it. All we need to know is what group we will be in."

When the Falcons restart training on July 5 it is likely to be without wing Ben Gollings. The 24-year-old, who has made 15 Zurich Premiership appearances for the Tyneside outfit, has been deemed surplus to requirements.

"We are talking about releasing Ben Gollings. We are talking to a few clubs about him possibly moving on," said Andrew.

"I feel that his opportunities here will be limited next year when you look at the strength in depth in the group of backs we have."

Promising Wolsingham teenager Mathew Tait is one of ten senior Academy players who will train with the first team squad next season.

The 18-year-old, who scored on his debut in the last game of the season, will be put forward for the England Sevens side for the IRB series and Andrew revealed: "We are moving the first team and the Academy structures much closer together.

"Those Academy players will form the core of the A team. The Academy lads have proven they are more than capable of playing in the first team and all selections are on merit and we will not be afraid to pick them."

Meanwhile, Andrew insists the Falcons can still be a force even without new Aussie international Radike Samo.

Samo had been expected to arrive at Kingston Park but Andrew explained: "When the decision came I wasn't hugely disappointed because it had been building up to that for a few weeks.

"When we were talking to him in his own mind he wanted to play for Fiji and come to the northern hemisphere.

"But his form for the Brumbies has been good, Australia approached him and they changed his mind."