We're not going to look for quick fixes, says Sutton Athletic boss James Collins

Collins, 30, saw his new side defeated 2-0 by Southern Counties East Football League side Corinthian in scorching temperatures at Lower Road yesterday afternoon.

Sutton Athletic contained Corinthian during the first half as both sides kept the ball on the deck, but Corinthian were the stronger side during the second half and goals from strikers Peter Afolayan and the diminutive Oscar Paxton, 18, gave Matt Longhurst’s side the comfortable win.

Collins, who has previously managed the reserves and first team at Erith Town, took plenty of positives from their opening warm-up.

“I’ve been out of it for a little while and I’m buzzing to get back,” said Collins.

“There’s lovely people here, they’re an ambitious club.  The boys’ down here are first class. They want to learn, they listen.  Maybe because some of them are a little bit older they’re drilled.  They’ve been a pleasure to work with so far.”

Sutton Athletic continue their preparations with a home game against Ryman League Division One North side VCD Athletic next Saturday, before playing Holmesdale (20 July on the 3G pitch at Dartford’s Princes Park); Phoenix Sports (away, 25 July); Dartford (home, 28 July); VCD Athletic (away, 30 July); Hythe Town (away, 3 August) and away to Rochester United on 5 August.

“I’m looking forward to the games,” said Collins. “We’ve deliberately got hard games.  You don’t want to play teams and win 8-0.  There’s no benefit in that.  We’ll get much more out of that like we got yesterday.

“I can’t wait for the season to start really.”

Only goalkeeper Dean James played the entire 90 minutes against Corinthian as Collins – and Corinthian manager Longhurst – swapped their entire outfield line-up during the break.

Sutton Athletic performed better during the first half than their second half team and players who don’t impress within the next week will face the axe.

Collins said: “We had a look at everyone there.  We had quite a few reserve boys out there so we was going to go 22 next week, so we’ll have a look at it this week and see if we go 22 again.

“We’ve got VCD next week and that will be another tough test. I don’t want to waste any time, I want to hit the ground running. 

“As of this week I’ll be looking to whittle it down but I learnt a lot yesterday.”

Sutton Athletic finished their second Kent Invicta League campaign in eighth-place in Guy Eldridge’s seventh and last season in charge of the club.

“I’m ambitious and I want to win every game,” said Collins.  “I always say and I’ve said to the boys, we’ll go out and try to win every game and at the end of the season we’ll decide whether it’s successful or not.

“We finished midtable last season. I’m ambitious and I would’ve liked to have stayed in the Kent League but this is a progressive club and that’s ultimately where I want to be so it’s not going to happen overnight off the field or it’s not going to happen overnight on the field, but we’re not going to look for quick fixes. 

“We’re going to do it the right way and if it takes a little bit longer, it’s going to take a little bit longer, but we’re looking to win every game and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Visit Sutton Athletic’s website: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/suttonathletic

Sutton Athletic  v  VCD Athletic
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 13^th July 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ