Off field problems marred Pope's two season spell at Don Valley and he was released yesterday to sign for boyhood side Port Vale with a year still to run on his contract.
Pope, who spent time on loan at Vale Park last season, spoke of his pre-season failures so far, saying: "I have had to train on my own for the first two weeks of pre-season - I wasn't out on the grass with the rest of the lads.
"It's tough when you're on your own to motivate yourself, and then the last couple of weeks I've spent with the kids not doing a lot."
Pope continued: "They're 16 and 17 and learning their trade. They're not going to be running around pitches, they're going to be doing ball work. There wasn't a lot that was really pushing me to get the fitness that I needed. It's been difficult but I'm not going to use that as an excuse.
"Hopefully the gaffer here (Micky Adams) is going to get me running and I will be able to catch up with the lads pretty soon."
Meanwhile former Miller Nick Fenton has signed a deal with Morecambe, where he teams up again with winger Kevin Ellison who was released over the summer.