Evo Stik Division One North
New Ossett Town manager Grant Black
New manager Grant Black admits that Ossett Town will have to hit the ground running in their battle to avoid relegation.
Black is getting ready to unveil the rest of his first batch of signings today as he prepares to take Ossett to Burscough tomorrow for his first match in charge.
Apart from Fernando Moke and Luke Mangham who have left, Ossett will be relatively new-look.
Player/assistant manager Steve Ridley arrived on Tuesday and Black has since been back to his old club Matlock Town for Alex Peterson and Jack Siddall.
Brad Kilner and Max Phillis are also in line to play tomorrow after making their debuts in the Integro Doodson League Cup win over Darlington 1883, a match that Black watched from the terraces.
“We need to gel straightaway because we have 16 games so it gives us no time to do that,” Black told Non League Yorkshire.
“The players I’m bringing in have experience in the Evo Stik Premier and I think they are experienced enough to get straight into it.
“Touch wood the experience we are bringing in will get us over the finish line. I also think their experience will bring out the best in the other lads who have been here for a while.
“Looking at Tuesday night, | thought there was a lot of positives and I definitely slept easier than I had done over the previous two days.
“I thought the squad that played did really well and there were miles more positives than negatives. I spoke to the lads before the game and explained that it is a clean slate and everybody had their chance to impress.
“There were definitely four or five lads that did that.”
Ossett are aiming to end a run of nine consecutive league defeats tomorrow, a terrifying statistic that has dragged them into relegation danger.
Ossett are only two points above second-bottom Harrogate Railway and Black said: “I’d describe the situation as not great, third bottom doesn’t make nice reading.
“As I’ve said in previous interviews, I’m massively confident that we can get out of it.
“We have brought quite a few new players in and based on what I saw on Tuesday I think we will be alright.
He added: “I have had lots and lots of phone calls from players that I have played with in the past offering their services as players.
“I’ve had a lot of ex-managers and people that are managing now and have managed me in the past ringing me to pass on advice and players. The response has been really positive.”