give Rod time

[stevea]

Rod asks in this weeks Braintree & Witham Times that we be patient with him this season.

There are three things that need to be met for me to be patient:

1- We need a sold & settled back four. This has always been necessary for any good team & is the base on which to build the rest of the team
2- Try & play attractive attacking football. Not to say that the odd hoof should not be a part of the occational armery.
3- Not to slag the players off in public.

Easy really

Come on you O's

Rod Stringers Orange Army

[Iron Webbo]

With any change of management there needs to be time given and patience as the new group of players get to know each other. As with most clubs, we've cut our cloth accordingly for the coming season - it is after all one of the Board's primary responsibilities to ensure that our club remains debt free.

Each season new clubs bring new money and some of our former players have been tempted by that. We thank them for their service and wish them well, but I remain confident that we have a top-half budget in this division and I expect us to be competitive.

Rod is working hard to pull together a balanced squad, although this has not been helped by recent departures. Not because any one player is irreplaceable, but because when a player gives us his word that he is with us next season - we do not pursue our interest in his replacement! Integrity is not a dirty word, but Rod will soon make that good.

One of the things we've talked about in the board room is the quality of our football. Yes we didn't get beat often last season, but we are aware that some folk regarded our 'style' as a little dour.

As you will see from Aveley's record last season, Rod is not fearful of conceding, believing that his sides will score goals. With George Purcell, Sean Marks, Mike Power, Martin Tuohy and now Justin Hazell at the Club you will see that we have a number of attacking options going forward.

I speak with Rod daily and his attitude, enthusiasm and desire is a breath of fresh air. Not all of Rod's efforts to bring in players are successful, but I believe that we are making real progress. Our reputation is that of a club that does not always offer players the most money, but of a club where they get it each pay day and on time!

There are no FA player signing embargoes at Cressing Road!

So patience, yes, but the hope and expectation of another season where our club mounts yet another sustainable challenge, safe in the knowledge that we'll still be a going concern next season, and the year after ...