There have been numerous changes both on and off the field since Andy Scott took the managers job, today he explained why and his insistance on having everything planned to the last detail.
“I want to build a football club again and put another promotion on my CV, I feel that I am responsible for this football club and everything that goes on comes back to me. That’s why I have brought in all the staff I have and why we have changed the youth set-up. We have improved the training ground and we are trying to improve all areas." Scott said.
“I am a bit of a control freak and I probably do have a bit of OCD, Only last week, we were talking about the colour of the cones on the training pitch. I wanted them all to be the same colour. If they are not, I don’t think it looks professional and that sets the wrong standard for our players."
“The pre-season programme was planned out at the end of last season. Everyone knew what would be happening from the first to the last day of pre-season and how long each session was going to last."
“The dynamic of the squad also had to be right, That’s why I felt it was important to meet every player I wanted to sign face to face. There were some players I met who were not right. Either I didn’t like them – or I didn’t like the way they would fit in. They may have been a good player but they wouldn’t have been a good player for me.”
Scott then looked back at his time at Brentford; “We had good players at Brentford... but these things happen in football, A new owner comes in with different ideas. Admittedly, we had a poor spell – but two out of the three months before that I had been nominated and won the Manager of the Month award."
“Everyone I have spoken to feels I was unfortunate to lose my job but I don’t hold grudges. Football is a harsh, harsh game and, if you don’t accept that, you are going to be a sad and sorry person for a long time.
“When this job became available I did my research on the club and I was prepared for an interview. There were a few other jobs around but I knew this area and I knew the chairman was ambitious. It felt like the right step for me.”
“Our aim this season is to win the league, I have told the lads ‘Don’t even think about finishing second, third or fourth this season – think about winning it." he added.
“I think we have a good enough squad to win this league and, with that, there is pressure and expectation. We will be going into games this season wanting to win and I will not be happy with just a point. I quite like that, too, because I’d rather set up teams to win than trying not to lose.”
Of course theres not just us in the league, and Andy looked at the other teams he thinks will be up there challenging for promotion; “It will be a tougher league than last season. You are probably looking at around 10 to 12 sides who are more than capable of challenging, never mind just finishing in the top three."
“AFC Wimbledon have spent more than anyone and have been installed as favourites. They have a huge budget and are collecting centre-forwards. Swindon, under Paolo Di Canio, have brought in a lot of foreigners – but that can go one of two ways."
“Paul Buckle at Bristol Rovers knows the league inside out and has a strong budget, we don’t know about Plymouth financially, and you count out Dagenham at your peril.
“Accrington have experience of the league, Micky Adams had Port Vale top of the league before leaving for Sheffield United, and now he’s back."
The list goes on, But we only have to worry about ourselves. If we do that, more people will be worried about us than we are about them.” he added.