Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Mark Maspero expects Yorkshire Amateur to be underestimated by opposition teams this season.
Maspero is the permanent replacement for Nathan Cartman who left after the winds of change blew at Bracken Edge in early July.
All the players departed with Cartman and Maspero leads a side containing Farsley Celtic under 23s players.
Many will assume the Ammers will be cannon fodder this season but Maspero says he has a squad capable of reaching the club’s targets.
“Yeah (outsiders) will (see us as cannon fodder) and I can see why and we talked about that (on Wednesday night),” Maspero told Non League Yorkshire.
“Teams will come us to thinking they have an easy game and I’ve said to the lads they have to work hard and run hard and listen to instructions.
“They are talented boys.
“Seven-or-eight have made appearances for Farsley in pre-season and we have a couple who are on the bench (for Farsley) at the moment so we can’t use them.
“They are quality players, they just need direction.
“Technically they are fantastic players, all of them.
“I think they have played previously as individuals, very few have played within a team set-up and had success.
“All I intend to do is keep developing them as players and put them into a team structure.
“I think we will be alright this season.
“Those words could bite me back but I think we have enough talent but it is about putting their energies in the right direction.
“I think it is essential we remain in the league and from there it is about building a team that is going to be sustainable in this league.
“Consolidation (is the aim) really.”
Maspero’s appointment was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, hours before the Ammers claimed their first point of the campaign with the 2-2 draw with Bottesford Town.
The Ammers were four minutes from three points until Bottesford snatched a dramatic equaliser.
“It was a positive start,” he said.
“From the previous three games, there was a little more structure and there was a team ethos.
“I thought they reacted really well.
“They just needed to deal with the pressure a little better rather than panicking.
“A draw was a fair result because Bottesford dominated the second half.
“We probably went ahead in the second half against the run of play.
“I thought we controlled large portions of the first half so a draw was probably fair.”