Pontefract Collieries manager Nick Handley believes his side have their “mojo” back
Pontefract Collieries manager Nick Handley believes his team are finally finding their feet in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division.
The newly-promoted side, now under the sole control of Handley, have had a jittery start to life in the NCEL’s top flight.
Pontefract have won twice, but lost to Armthorpe Welfare, Worksop Town and most notably bottom-placed Brigg Town. Ponte also lost at lower league Rossington in the FA Vase.
Since the shock defeat at Brigg, the Collieries have responded with a win at Rainworth and a positive display at leader Tadcaster so Handley has seen an improvement.
“We have our mojo back and we’re playing the way we are good at,” he told Non League Yorkshire.
“It is working and the lads have their confidence back.
“It hasn’t been the best start. Everyone has varying styles of football so the new lads have needed time to settle in and adapt to what we do.
“They took it on board at Rainworth and then at Tadcaster and you can see the difference already.
“Some of the results were concerning, but we knew we had the quality in the lads.
“It was just a matter of getting the lads playing in the right way and together.
“Two or three new players can upset the balance, but it is looking a lot better.
“We’re confident we can push on now.”
The door is open for promotion-winning joint manager Duncan Bray to return to Pontefract, says Nick Handley. Bray resigned after the defeat at Brigg Town because of work and family commitments.
Handley was publicly confirmed as the sole manager of Pontefract’s first team last Sunday.
The announcement ended Handley and Bray’s joint tenure which brought Premier Division football back to Beechnut Lane after 16 years away.
Bray’s decision to quit after the defeat at Brigg was not a shock as he had been struggling with work and family commitments and even Handley admits that.
He added: “I have had a difficult year.
“I lost my mum. I lost my job and I’ve just started a new job and now Duncan has resigned.
“In all honesty, Duncan was struggling with his work in London and then his family commitments.
“It was half-expected because we have talked about it over the last few months so good luck to him.
“Dunc is always welcome back if his circumstances ever change and I’m still in charge. He’s definitely left a mark.
“Myself and Dunc worked really well together. There was a never a bad word and there was always compromise.
“We were always on the same hymn sheet.”
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