Everyone now at the club are all pulling in the right direction, says Chipstead boss Lee Roots

CHIPSTEAD manager Lee Roots says it is a great honour and privilege to take charge of the club.

Robin Manuel was asked to leave the club last week after a string of bad results, which leaves the near-Sevenoaks based club rooted to the foot of the NRG Gym Kent County League Premier Division table following nine defeats on the bounce in the league.

Roots, 30, who lives in Bromley, is relishing his new role, having been Manuel’s assistant manager.

He said: “It was a great honour and privilege for me to get the call from the chairman and be offered the first team managers job, which was something I accepted instantly.

“I have only been in the position a week but the reaction from the lads has been incredible.

“I have brought in John Coleman as my number two and Liam Smith joins the coaching staff.

“It’s an incredibly strong managerial team, something I needed and wanted to be able to push the club forward with the vision I have and stabilise us within the Kent County Premier League.”

Chipstead went down to a 3-0 home defeat to Holland Sports last weekend.

“Unfortunately, injuries and players’ being away, meant we were forced to field a slightly weakened side last week against Holland Sports,” said Roots.

“Despite this fact, the lads competed throughout and at times had control of the game, in good possession and was on top.  But two silly individual mistakes cost us. Simple.”

Chipstead look to collect their first points of the season when they travel to Cobdown to play Kris Browning’s side.

“APM Contrast are a good side who play on a good pitch,” said Roots.

“I realise there are no easy games in this division, not one! Tomorrow will be no different!

“APM like to get the ball down and play and they have the home pitch to do that. 

“My vision for the club as manager is to play a much better style and expression of football.

“We have the quality in our squad to do it and the lads are reacting well to new instructions and are inputting my ideas onto the field well on a Saturday.

“We go into tomorrow’s game with a big squad available. Players are away through injuries and holidays, of course, but I have gone out and signed new players since taking over as manager this week.

“The type of players’ I know will come into the squad to improve us, develop us and push us on up the league.

“I have signed Bobby Knight, ex-Chipstead captain, who returns. Charlie Hackshall, Matt Lockett, Mark Ridley have all signed and Dan Hunwick returns from injury.

“The results prior to me taking over as manager do not reflect the squad I am building.

“We’re not even thinking or looking at that. The lads know what they must do individually and as a team to compete properly in games, get wins and secure the club’s position.

“After another good full training session, we go into tomorrow’s game confident and more than ready for the battle ahead and to compete.

“Everyone now at the club are all pulling in the right direction. There is togetherness and a buzz right through the squad and the whole club, which is something I expect from any club where I am the manager.”

Visit Chipstead’s website: www.chipsteadfc.org.uk

APM Contrast  v  Chipstead
NRG Gym Kent County League Premier Division
Saturday 1^st November 2014
Kick Off 2:00pm
at Cobdown Sports & Social Club, Station Road, Ditton, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6AU


Chipstead Football Club chairman Alan Black has issued the following statement:

“The official line from the club is that Robin and I agreed that it would be better for both parties if he were to step down due to family matters impacting on the amount of time he was able to commit to the team and that bringing in someone new might help improve matters on the pitch.
 
“Robin joined us initially in a coaching capacity, but took over the manager reins when the then manager had to step down due to work commitments.

“He worked very hard to bring in players and coaches and I did appreciate how much time he was able to commit, despite on-going family matters he had to deal with.”