On how the team are looking forward to the new season:
We’re looking forward to it – we’re excited to be starting a fresh new season. The boys have been getting fit in pre-season and we’re working towards our new team gelling.
On the most important parts of pre-season:
Getting the team fit, working hard, and blending together. They’re an honest group of players and I’m sure they’re excited for the season that lies ahead.
On Calvin Brooks’ injury:
We’re just assessing the situation, and, touch wood, we’ll know more soon. No one wants injuries during pre-season.
On whether the club aimed to build a squad with a mixture of qualities:
We just wanted to get the right blend. I kept the players I wanted to keep, but I also wanted new and local players with quality, which we managed to get. I’m pleased with what the club has done this summer. We don’t have the biggest budget in the league, but we’ve made sure to bring in the right players.
On how he’s helped the new players settle in:
I’ve not expected them to do anything I wouldn’t do. If you want your new players to hit the ground running, you need to be honest with them – this helps them settle in quicker.
On what he looks for most from his players during pre-season:
A bit of everything. First of all, you’ve got to get your players fit, before you blend everything together. A manager’s job is to keep their players happy, while also getting their points across. This is how a team all pushes forward in the same direction, ensuring there’s more ups than downs during a season.
On our first league game this Saturday:
We’re all excited. We know it will be a dangerous game – I know Mike Ford and he’s done wonders with Evesham, getting them promoted last year. They’ll have momentum, but this needs to be a game we’ll enjoy. The first game are always difficult, because they’re played at 100 miles-an-hour, so we’ll need to stay composed.
On the fans:
They’ve been brilliant ever since I’ve come in. Hopefully we can put on a show for them and get the right result.
On this season’s objectives:
As I’ve said before, this club needs to reset. I’ve told the players that no club is too big to go down, so it’s important that we reset. There’s a lot of teams competing this season, and we can’t wave a magic wand, but our objective is to go up. Hopefully, by the end of the season, we can get to be where we want to be.
Interview by
Jack Webb
