I will be getting myself fit and doing a pre-season as we lack characters - O'Brien

Tuesday 06th April 2010

HURTING Chatham Town boss Alex O’Brien has told his beleaguered side to upset big-spending league leaders Croydon Athletic at Maidstone Road on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chatham’s miserable run of picking up only one point from their last seven games has seen them slump down into the bottom-six in the Ryman League Division One South table and O’Brien told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he fears the worst at the end of the season.

Chatham rued missing some good openings before going down to a 2-0 defeat at title-chasing Folkestone Invicta at Cheriton Road on Easter Monday, after suffering a miserable 1-0 home defeat at the hands of struggling Walton Casuals a couple of days earlier.

“I’ve said to them, football’s not a tap, you can’t turn it on one week and turn it off the next,” said O’Brien.

“I hope we get the same work-rate, the same ability on the ball as in passing. I know there was a better pitch (at Folkestone) but I still want my players to pass the ball and pass it nice and quick.

“But if we create five chances we have to be scoring two. That’s been our downfall all season. We’ve created but we haven’t scored.

“It would be a massive help to another Kent side if we can get something from the Croydon game and that’s what we’re going to work hard and do.”

Last summer Chatham were tipped by many to be the dark horses for the play-off’s this season, especially considering the players that O’Brien and his assistant Lew Watts had attracted to the club.

O’Brien agreed, saying: “The players that we’ve got, on paper, that’s what we wanted to achieve but for some reason we haven’t gelled.

“Now, if that’s due to not being able to work on as much as I want to work on, then so be it.

“I have got players in there that have done a decent standard of football and I’ve got some youngsters in there and you want to find a blend, but unfortunately we haven’t blended and we haven’t come together and we haven’t really taken this league how we should.”

O’Brien has challenged his side to pick up maximum points from their last three games. Croydon Athletic and Walton & Hersham (17th April) are at home, whilst the club end their campaign with a trip to Ashford Town on the final day of the season.

“If I look at those three games and I sit down and I’m a Chatham Town player I’d go right, Croydon, let’s upset them, Walton, they’re in the mix, let’s upset them. We’ve got to go to Ashford, that’s going to be a massive game.

“I’d be the first one to roll my sleeves up and go ok, let’s give this a massive go.

“We’ve got a big, big say on what happens in the league. It’s something I relish and I know Lew’s the same.

“It’s a fantastic game to finish on but I just hope the players see it and I just hope that we can take points from not just one or two games, but all three of them.”

Bemoaning his side’s lack of character, O’Brien hasn’t ruled out the prospect of taking to the field next season.

“A lot of people have said that to me but it’s been one where I wanted to do it solely and see everything from a manager’s point of view,” he explained.

“I will be getting myself fit but like I say football is a revolving door so I have to make sure I’m at a club first before I can get fit.

“We lack characters. I’ve always told the boys I was never a footballer. I was just a very good organiser, someone who wanted to do well. I think if we had a couple of those in there we’d be alright.”

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

Chatham Town v Croydon Athletic

Ryman League Division One South

Saturday 10th April 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES