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New-look Southam will need time to grow says boss




New Southam United manager Ian Ray accepts it will take time for his squad to gel.
New Southam United manager Ian Ray accepts it will take time for his squad to gel.

FOOTBALL

NEW Southam United manager Ian Ray insists his new-look squad will be ‘up for the battle’ as they face a daunting start to the Midland League Division One season.

The Saints were handed a relegation reprieve, despite finishing ten points adrift at the bottom of the table.

But they will start the 2016-17 season with a trip to the title favourites and last year's runners-up, Bromsgrove Sporting, on Saturday.

Ray, who takes over as boss after managing the reserve and youth teams, will be relying on youth and academy players plus seven new recruits and half a dozen former Saints players.

“It's going to be a long, tough campaign, but the staff and players are up for the battle,” said Ray.

“We have a completely new group of players and it's going to take time for them to come together. The most important thing for me is that we improve and grow as a team as the season progresses.”

For chairman Charles Hill, it is also a time of change and a new direction for the club.

“I am looking forward to the new season and feel that with the right application from everyone (management, players, officials and supporters) we can consolidate into mid table following the difficulties of last season.”

“However, at the present time it is unrealistic for anyone to think that we can currently challenge for the top spots over the full course of the season with the likes of Bromsgrove Sporting and Hinckley AFC, who are able to commit substantial financial and other resources to their squads. This does not mean to say that we can't compete with them in individual games and, indeed, we have the chance to do just that at the tough opener on Saturday at Bromsgrove.”

“With our new ground development project under way, and various other initiatives in the pipeline, the medium and longer term ambitions we have to push on as a club can be fulfilled so the overall outlook is very positive.”

After the trip to Bromsgrove, Saints play their first home match on Tuesday when they entertain Cadbury Athletic at Banbury Road (7.45pm).



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