SARLL’S EAGER TO PUSH BORO TO THE MAX
DARREN Sarll has achieved his aim of moving Stevenage up a level this year, but has now challenged his players to stay there.
Boro finished 18th last term and were languishing in the bottom half again as recently as January.
But a superb run in recent times has launched them into automatic promotion contention – just seven points behind thirdplace Portsmouth before yesterday’s games.
And boss Sarll has highlighted unity at the Lamex Stadium as crucial to their turnaround.
“Like we’ve heard before, there were some folk very unhappy with what we were doing in the depths of dark December, when we were struggling, but here we are now,” explained the manager.
“We’ve all done what we said we’ll do. We’ve stuck together and come out massively through the other side. I can’t emphasise enough the target this year was to establish Stevenage competitively.
“We’re doing that and I think we’ve gone another level up, as well, in the same time frame.
“How long we can stay there is down to the consistency and form of the players.
“Human nature tells you at times there will be bumps and breakdowns and we have to respond.”
Stevenage’s loss to Blackpool in midweek was their first since January 21 but Sarll is not resting on his laurels and is desperate to push the club to even greater heights.
“The great thing about the way we work here is that I don’t think anyone is ever satisfied,” he added.
“I’m far too ambitious to want to sit in mid-table or fight against relegation like last year.
“We always strive to be better and we’ve set new standards this year like the club’s never set before. We’ve broken boundaries the club hasn’t seen even in its more successful days.”