Lovell vows to turn around Ashford's fortunes

New Ashford Town boss Steve Lovell looks forward to the new challenge ahead -and reflects on last night’s defeat at Chipstead, writes Sam Dixon.

After being at Sittingbourne for four different periods as player and manager, Lovell has decided a new challenge is required and for the former Wales international, Homelands is the perfect place.

"I’m very excited about coming back to Homelands, I enjoyed my time as a player here and am looking forward to meeting some old friends," the 47-year-old Welshman told www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk.

"The word challenge is the best way to describe the job ahead. The team are not performing how they all can do, it’s now my job to make them play together as a team instead of individuals.

"I’m looking forward to the challenge of stamping my own authority on the style of play. It’s always exciting when you join a new club, and I really can’t wait to get amongst the players and getting them playing the way I want them to.

"I was at Sittingbourne for a long time but Don (Ashford Town co-owner Don Crosbie) has completely sold the challenge here to me. His enthusiasm is amazing. I have never had the backing that he is willing to give me.

"I don’t take second best and nor does he. Everyone seems to be pulling in the right direction here and it feels great to have become a part of it."

With the Nuts and Bolts currently loitering in mid-table obscurity, Lovell is confident that they can still have a successful campaign.

"We have to aim as high as you can possibly get, if you fall just short you are still bound to be in a good position. We just need to be consistent.

"I don’t want a good performance one week and a poor one the next, that is no good to anyone. We need to be consistent in this league and if we are we will be successful."

Lovell has told the fans to expect some new faces in, but not before he has given the current crop their chance to impress.

He said: "There has been some criticism of the players so far this season but this is their chance to fightback. It is a new start for them.

"They are all new to us so they will get their chance. Rob (Udberg, my assistant manager), and I will have a look at what we have got and then identify the areas that we need to strengthen. But they all need to give 100% to the cause."

Reflecting on the poor defeat at Chipstead last night, Lovell was surprised and disappointed but could not fault the commitment he saw.

"Last night was very disappointing," he said. "I was surprised to see very little cohesion. There seemed to be no pattern or direction. It looked as though they had little confidence in each other’s abilities. They seemed afraid to pass it to each other and didn’t really know what areas they were meant to be in.

"But having said that I couldn’t fault the effort they put in. The players worked really hard, and if they put that much effort in each week I will be happy.

"There is a lot of work to be done. It’s amazing that it’s already November and there is no shape to the team or no game plan. We need to address these problems quickly, we need to coach them because at the moment they seem a bit lost."

The new manager is aware that success won’t come instantly but, with the backing of the board, Lovell knows that he can getting the side playing his brand of football.

"It will certainly take time to sort things out here but it will come," he promised.

"I was very disappointed with the performance last night but not as disappointed if it was my own team that played like that.

"This is not my own team yet but they soon will be, it will take time but with Don’s support we will get there. Firstly, we have to go back to basics but once we have developed a team ethic instead of playing as individuals we will start performing to the best of our abilities. I can’t wait to get stuck in."

Ashford Town travel to Croydon Athletic on Saturday (3pm), before Lovell takes charge of his first home match when Worthing visit The Homelands on Tuesday, 13^th November (7:45pm).  Both are Ryman League Division One South fixtures.

Article courtesy of www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk