We're in a massive learning curve with the squad, says Cray Wanderers boss Keith Bird

CRAY WANDERERS manager Keith Bird says he has the supporters on side as he bids to escape relegation at the end of the season.



Bird and his assistant Mike Paye met supporters following the club’s FA Trophy First Qualifying Round defeat to Hendon, who came away from Hayes Lane with a 4-1 win last Saturday.

“I think we’re in a massive learning curve with the squad that we’ve kept and the additions that we’ve made to the squad,” admitted Bird.

“Ideally, during pre-season you’re assessing players and you’re assessing systems and we’re having to do that in real time in real games.  It’s a very, very short learning curve for us. We’ve learnt a lot from the game and hopefully we’ll be making the adjustments based on what we learnt from Saturday.”

When asked whether he was disappointed with the result, the former Bromley reserve team manager who took over from the legendary Ian Jenkins said: “Not with the scoreline, no! Hendon deserved to win. No question about that!

“Towards the end there, once we got down 2-1 we were starting to chase the game a little bit.

“Hendon scored quite early on in the second half – it was 1-1 at half-time.

“We were really chasing the game. The fourth goal wasn’t really here or there at that stage. With ten minutes to go in a cup game you’re throwing caution to the wind.

“We went three at the back and three up top and it was always going to go one way or another so the scoreline doesn’t worry me at all. We were chasing the game and that’s what tends to happen.”

Bird added: “Overall, Hendon were the better side and deserved to go through.”

Bird said he is pleased with the backing he has received from the club’s small fan-base, saying the fans’ meeting after the game “went very, very well.”

“It was a great opportunity to meet with the fans formally after the game,” said Bird.

“We’ve got to know people in and around the club and some of the supporters in the couple of weeks since taking over.

“It was a great to get time to talk to them and have time to talk about our plans and what we’re doing with our squad. 

“There’s a great support from the fans.  They appear to have a real lift with a turnaround with results. We lost the game on Saturday but they were still positive despite the result because of the way we played and the way that we lost.

“We’re in a massive learning curve in terms of what we’ve got and the improvements that that we need to make in terms of playing personnel and the way we want to play and the fans have been very supportive.”

The Wands remain rooted to the foot of the Ryman Premier League table, having collected two wins and a draw from their opening 12 games and are five points adrift of safety.

Bury Town, meanwhile, arrive at Hayes Lane on Saturday sitting in 12^th place in the table, having collected five wins and four draws from fourteen games.

“I’m expecting another very tough game,” said Bird.

“At the moment the budget and the squad we have it’s going to be the bottom half of the table we’re going to really be looking to pick up enough points to avoid the relegation battle that we’ve inherited.

“Above midtable teams and above it’s going to be about being very disciplined and very professional and taking chances whenever we get them and in and around that staying compact and competitive.

“I expect a very difficult game and it will be a test for us so early on.”

Bird admitted the club’s new-look squad are a long way off to where he wants them to be.

“I think it’s going to be an involving process over the course of the season,” he said.

“We’re actually assessing the players in real time during the games instead of looking at them in pre-season and trying things out.

“I would say we’re four or five weeks off from where we ultimately feel we need to settle down to a regular squad and a regular system.

“It’s going to be another four to five weeks before we get to that stage.”

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/craywands

Cray Wanderers  v  Bury Town
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 26^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF