Joint boss Andy Davies can’t wait to send his St Neots Town side into Southern League Premier Division battle
Joint St Neots Town boss Andy Davies can't wait for the new season to begin. - Credit: Archant
Andy Davies is the managerial equivalent of a small child on Christmas morning right now.
The joint St Neots Town chief can hardly contain his excitement ahead of the new Southern League Premier Division season.
Davies successfully preserved the club’s Step 3 status as interim boss for the final months of last season following the January resignation of boss David Batch.
Now he is part of a managerial duo with Robbie O’Keefe, who also works as the Academy boss at League Two club Stevenage, and they have radically revamped the Saints squad.
An ageing group of players has been torn apart and re-energised by a dozen-or-so new signings who all fit the required model of being experienced enough to perform at this level and young enough to improve while doing so.
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Davies said: “I’m really excited about the new season and I truly believe in the squad of players we have put together.
“Being around the boys in the changing room, on the training pitch and in a game situation is a great experience.
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“We’ve got players who are reaching their prime, but who are already mature enough to perform at this level.
“We know we can score goals and we will play on the front foot, just as we have done in pre-season. We have fallen short a couple of times when not quite working hard enough as a unit, but I’m confident that won’t happen in a competitive game.
“If I had inherited this squad back in January, we certainly wouldn’t have had to worry about staying up.”
Saints go into battle with a trip to Slough Town tomorrow – the match is actually being played at Beaconsfield - ahead of a home clash against King’s Lynn at the Premier Plus Stadium on Tuesday.
Davies added: “A lot of lads will be getting their first taste of football at this level on Saturday as well as making their debuts for St Neots.
“It is important to pick up a result to get the season off to a good start ahead of what will be a very tough home clash against King’s Lynn.
“That match will be a real clash of styles. We’ll have to deal with a very direct approach and stamp our authority on the game.
“I’ve got no fears on that front though.”
Davies expects to have wideman Ryan Hawkins available for the start of the season despite strong interest from League Two club Stevenage. Fellow winger Remy Gordon won’t be involved though as he negotiates the termination of his contract with the club.
St Neots have added Jordan Patrick, a one-time professional at Cambridge United, to their squad. He can play out wide or up front.
ST NEOTS TOWN
League: Southern Premier Division
Last season: 20th
Manager: Andy Davies/Robbie O’Keefe
New signings: Sam Donkin (goalkeeper), Dom Mason (defender), Taylor Parr (defender), Tom Wood (defender), Jonny Hall (defender), Ieuan Lewis (defender), Charlie Butt (defender/midfielder), Rogan McGeorge (midfielder), Micky Hyem (midfielder), Declan Rogers (midfielder), Jordan Patrick (midfielder), James Hall (striker), Dubi Ogbonna (striker).
Departures: Brett Longden (defender), Jamie Anton (defender), Adam Tann (defender/midfielder), Dan Schiavi (midfielder), Drew Roberts (striker).
