I would love one year to take a side with a big crowd, says VCD Athletic boss Tony Russell

VCD ATHLETIC manager Tony Russell says he has a plan to cope with the club’s gruelling end to the season.

The Vickers returned to the summit of the Ryman League Division One North table following their 3-1 home win over Brentwood Town last night.

Brentwood deservedly opened the scoring six minutes before half-time when winger Junior Luke swept home.

But the introduction of James Duckworth inspired Vickers to their nineteenth league win of the season, with second half goals from Michael Power (2) and Duckworth.

Russell’s side must cram in 20 league games in a gruelling 64 day period, starting with a visit from sixth-placed Dereham Town tomorrow.

Vickers then travel to Aveley on Monday night before welcoming Needham Market to Oakwood on Thursday 27 February, followed by a trip to Wroxham on the Saturday.

“I’ve got a plan but every manager I’ve spoken to everyone’s going mad about the league not extending the season,” said Russell.

“I’m off the theory, although I agree with them, there’s nothing we can do. You’ve got to deal with it.  I think it’s the most it’s rained for 250 years.

“I just think as a young manager trying to learn his trade getting exposed to things like this, I’ll come out of it whatever in eight or nine weeks’ time.  I might have made an absolute boob-boob but I will learn from it so if it ever happens again I’ll deal with it better.”

When asked how he will cope with so many games in a very short space of time, the 35-year-old replied: “I’ve got an idea. We’re trying to bring in a couple of new faces. We’ve got a couple of boys out on loan we’re going to bring back for certain games and we’re going to juggle it about a bit.

“We’ve definitely got one coming in for Saturday, hoping to add two but that’s the idea. 

“Everyone’s in the same boat and we’re all going to do it in different ways, but I try to look at everything in a positive and we’ll deal with this and if we can deal with it or you can’t it’s something else I can add to my bow, saying I’ve dealt with that situation.”

After guiding the Crayford based club out of the Kent League last season after finishing runners-up to double winners Erith & Belvedere, Russell’s stock in the game is rising.

When asked if he’ll be managing the club in the Ryman Premier League next season, Russell hesitated and said: “Good question! Pass. I don’t know. It’s hard. It’s a tough one. I don’t know.

“I’m not fazed about what league I’m in.  If I left here and a Kent Invicta League side came in for me with ambition, I’m not driven by trophies – it’s progression.

“If we win the league I’ll be just as happy as I was last year. It’s a progression thing.

“When I look at what my team are doing now compared when I first started at Erith Town, it was completely different. I was trying things but not doing the same things. Things have evolved.

“To me I just want to keep learning and keep trying things and keep thinking about it and keep putting it into practice and see where it takes you.

“I’m not going to go in there (dressing room) and you’ll hear me screaming but I wouldn’t be getting down in the dumps if we lost.

“I try to just enjoy football and give everything that I’ve got and say to the boys to enjoy it and the rest will look after itself.”

Despite being top of the Ryman League Division One North table, only 66 people watched last night’s game, which frustrated the manager.

“I would love one day to take a side with a big crowd and get them excited,” said Russell.

“Every semi-professional footballer wants to be a professional. He’s a frustrated person who didn’t become a professional.

“The closest thing you’re going to get is when there’s one thousand, seven hundred or two thousand people or whatever it may be - but a crowd.

“When we score we don’t hear nothing and that’s no disrespect.  This is a great club, a lovely club but in maybe 10-15 years or whatever it may be I would like to lead a team that has a fan base who get behind your players. When it’s flat they can lift it and get a little bit of help from someone else – that’s what I’d like to do personally.”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/vcdathleticfc

VCD Athletic  v  Dereham Town
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 22^nd February 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN