Change in ethos needed for club to compete

Mark Cooper admits a change in ethos is needed at Windsor if they’re to challenge for the title or promotion in the coming seasons.

The Royalists are a competitive outfit at this level, and have been for several seasons, however, if they’re to push on and challenge for promotion to step 4 he accepts they’d have to adapt their financial model.

Currently the club doesn’t have a playing budget which means they’re at a disadvantage to those who do, with Cooper believing there’s a big divide between the top six sides who he says have sizeable budgets, and the rest who don’t.

Despite this he’s confident he can lead the Royalists to a top half finish. The 10th placed side have 10 league matches left to play after losing 1-0 to Egham Town on Saturday.

Asked if he already had one-eye on next season, Cooper responded: “No, not at all. We’re determined to finish the season off well rather than looking further ahead. There’s a clear divide between the top six and the rest of the league,

“We want to finish as high as we can outside that top six.

That’s the ambition. We want to pick up points and we want to go on a good run now. We’re a competitive side in the league, but there’s a divide between the top six and their budgets and the sides outside of that.

“If you want to compete on the same level you need a change in ethos at the club. That’s if we want to compete for the league going forward.”