It’s been a tough start, tougher than expected but I’m loving every minute of it, says Rochester United boss Ian Varley

ROCHESTER UNITED boss Ian Varley says it’s been a tough opening six games in charge of the struggling club.

Varley left Southern Counties East Football League First Division side Holmesdale after 10 games to take charge of a Rochester United side that are struggling at the wrong end of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table.

Varley has won one game since taking over at Rede Court Road and has lost the other five.

“It’s been a tough start, tougher than expected but I’m loving every minute of it,” said Varley.

“We just need to learn to manage difficult periods in games and change the mentality of some of the players.

“Being mid-season, it’s obviously more difficult to get players in but they’ll be some more new faces over the next couple of weeks to help make the squad more competitive and improve the overall quality.

“I’ve certainly seen an improvement and now we’ve only got one game a week until after Christmas, it’ll give us plenty of time to get on the training pitch to implement what myself and the management team want.”

When asked the reason behind his departure from Bromley-based Holmesdale, Varley replied: “Leaving Holmesdale was just about progression, that’s all.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and will always be grateful that they gave me my first job in management.  I just felt I couldn’t turn down the chance to manage in the League above so early in my management career as jobs aren’t always easy to come by in non-league.”

Rochester’s interest in the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy ended at the first attempt at the weekend after they lost 2-0 at home to league leaders Sevenoaks Town.

“A very tough game as we faced probably the strongest team in our division.  It was nice to have a break from the league though.”

Rochester United are second-from-bottom in the table with five points from nine games and they travel to eighth-placed Bearsted next Saturday.