We are currently in the transition of moving the club to the next level, says James Collins

SUTTON ATHLETIC manager James Collins says the club are in the process of improving facilities at their Hextable based ground to enhance their chances of securing promotion.



Former Erith Town manager Collins has guided the club to third-place in the Kent Invicta League table with 27 points from 14 games.

They are 12 points adrift of league leaders Hollands & Blair and welcome Lewisham Borough to Lower Road tomorrow.

Lewisham Borough went down to a 1-0 home defeat to Rusthall last Saturday, a result that saw manager Willie O’Sullivan resign after the game.

Lewisham Borough are in the bottom four in the table with 13 points from 13 games and Collins said: “It’ll be good to get back at home after three away games on the trot. We beat them 1-0 earlier on in the season so they will be looking to turn that result around this time out.

“But we are eight games unbeaten in the league so we will be looking to continue that run and consolidate our third place position going into the Eltham Palace game before three cup games in January where we have an exciting Quarter-Final with Hollands & Blair over two legs and another Quarter-Final in the Hospital Charity Cup against Forest Hill Park.

“So we have an important Christmas and start to the New Year, hopefully going into the second half of the season with all to play for.”

Reflecting on their campaign so far, Collins, who took charge in the summer, said: “First half of the season has gone really well for us. If at the beginning we had been offered third place in the league and in two Quarter-Finals we would definitely have taken that.

“Obviously with us only having pre-season to build a team with current players, new players and management we had a bit of a slow start, which we expected, but I always thought we would get stronger as the season progressed.

“As I said we are on a bit of a run but that’s all it is, but we’re taking it one game at a time. Hopefully we can carry on improving. We try to win every game and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Collins is pleased that the club are moving in the same direction both on and off the pitch.

He said: “As I said when I joined the club is ambitious. Plans have just been submitted for floodlights and a stand that will seat 200 people and a standing area behind the goal for a further 100 people.

“I understand we will know if we have been successful sometime in January. The committee have done a fantastic job when you consider where they have taken the club in such a short space of time. There are certain things that need to be changed next season as we are currently in the transition of moving the club to the next level but we are getting there.”

The club are forming an under eighteen side next season James Collins would like to hear from interested parties who would like to manage the side. 
 
Visit Sutton Athletic’s website: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/suttonathletic

Sutton Athletic  v  Lewisham Borough
Kent Invicta League
Saturday 21^st December 2013
Kick Off 2:00pm
At Lower Road Sports Ground, Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ