AFC Liverpool interim manager Matt Potter has expressed his excitement as he gears up for his first game in charge.
Potter, who had previously been the assistant, takes up the role as head coach following the exit of Chris Anderson who took up an opportunity higher up the pyramid at Chorley as Assistant Manager.
AFC Liverpool returned to the North West Counties Premier Division last season and finished outside the top half after a strong finish to the campaign.
Despite Anderson’s exit, the foundations for this season have been in place since the conclusion of the last season.
And Potter is looking to learn from their return to the Premier Division whilst improving on their 14th-place finish.
He told Off The Park: “It’s been good, I’d been with Ando for a couple of years so we had an idea, we’ve always had a group of lads we’ve kept together and that’s always been the foundation of the past three years.
“End of last season we lost Callum Schorah who’s gone to play higher, which is well deserved, he won league Player of the Year last year, he stayed around and been loyal with the club so it was only right he moved on.
“Everyone else at the club has stayed, based on the season we had, the Vase run, it’s given us a solid base to build on. The pre-season has been good in terms of numbers coming down, we’ve not looked at a lot of new players coming in because we’re happy with what we had, then preparations changed a little bit when Ando left.
“When I say a little bit, obviously the plans were already in place, him leaving affects a few things in terms of where we are but everyone’s pulled together, everything’s really solid so the work we’ve done till now we want to take into t season as soon as we start on Saturday.”
Anderson departed the club on the eve of his 100th game in charge but for Potter it now marks his first game as manager, on the change in role he added: “It’s been different, it’s been a lot busier. I think everyone appreciates how much Ando has put into the club, a lot of time, so the last couple of weeks I’ve been busy, in contact with players, getting things sorted for the new season.
“The enjoyment factor now has increased a little bit more, the start of the season is quite exciting. That would’ve been his 100th game and mine as a management team which doesn’t sound like a lot considering the time we’ve been here but going into that now as my first management game is really exciting and something I’m really looking forward to. Let’s hope the work we put in it’s a positive start and the one we really want.
“End of last season I looked at it in terms of league table with goals scored and goals against, we scored 80 and conceded 80, I don’t think any teams had that many goals in the games across the season – so value for money we were absolutely huge.
“The scoring goals is fantastic and we want that to continue so we want to play free-flowing football and what we want to do at the same time is sharpen up where we are defensively so we looked at a few lads who come in.
“Not a massive amount of people but we’ve looked at different numbers to help that, stop goals going in but we still want that attacking, free-flowing football because at the end of the day that’s the way we play and what the fans want to see and if people are putting their money in, we want to give something back and that exciting football is back.
“I’m thrilled, honestly, because it was the first full season it kind of seem to finish abruptly, we finished at the start of April which was mad so the time off has been huge. But now, can’t wait to get going, the lads can’t, it’s been a long break and everyone’s chomping at the bit to go. Something we’re really looking forward to.”
[Featured Image: Dave Williams]
