Impressed of Newent went along to Hereford FC manager Russell Slade's 'coffee and chat morning'. About 30 supporters attended.
These are his bullet points from the event.
- RS estimates that he currently has 7 (seven) players who can consistently perform to the required level.
- Those who can not will be moved on, loaned out or made the best of.
- RS has too many followers and not enough leaders on the pitch.
- RS expects Dawson, who despite still being league standard is at the club based on his relationship with RS, to shake things up and encourage the players to demand higher standards of each other.
- We do not have the biggest budget or the best players in the division. They therefore need to build strong on-field relationships and play to a system that makes them competitive.
- The club now needs to transition and build momentum to move to the next level.
- Based on RS contacts and relationships with former clubs, a number of the loan players are fully funded by their parent clubs.
- RS is chasing another player and trying to get him in before the January transfer window - this would indicate that he is presently with a league club.
- Filling the left back position was/is not his highest priority though Greenslade was expected to return sooner than he did.
- Davies played in 2 trial games and is not yet ready for the first team.
- An interesting quote was (as manager) RS can "lead a horse to water but not make it drink".
Overall, RS was open, honest, passionate, funny and obviously a competent manager.