MOORS SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Boss Tim is still steering strong Solihull charge
“WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT IT’S A LONG ARDUOUS SEASON” Tim Flowers
SOLIHULL MOORS had to stage a Great Escape to ensure they had a chance to take on the National League big guns like Leyton Orient once again.
But despite their 3-0 defeat in midweek to the O’s, boss Tim Flowers’ side have got off to a good enough start to put them inside the division’s top ten.
Tipped by the bookies to struggle, they look anything but a side who will and the former England goalkeeper, who in the summer stepped up from his role as assistant following Mark Yates’ switch to Macclesfield, is happy with their early showing.
“Sixteen points from our first nine games is a good return,” Flowers told The NLP. “It tells you that you are moving in the right direction but it’s a long, long arduous season and there’s a lot of travelling.
“Unfortu“We we’re not ones who can afford to travel overnight and have all the luxuries. So we travel on the day, sometimes eat on the bus.
Challenge
“But the players never ever moan. They get on with it. They are good, honest sorts and I wouldn’t change them for the world. So in terms of that I am absolutely delighted. We have to be bang on our game so to have got what we’ve got against some good sides, I’ve got to be pleased.”
Flowers is enjoying his new challenge. He had a brief spell in charge of Stafford Rangers in 2010 and since then has been on the management staff at QPR, Hull City, Northampton Town and Kidderminster Harriers before seizing the No. 1 chance at Moors.
“It’s been terrific,” Flowers, whose side has recently been taken over by former Oxford United chairman Darryl Eales, said. “Obviously Mark got the chance to bounce back into the Football League and I was really pleased for him because he’s a super lad and a good manager – he knows what he’s doing.
“I didn’t want to go, I wanted to stay here. I live local and the board asked me would I like to crack on with it – I was more than happy to accept that.
“We lost a few in the summer, brought a few in, I believe better. Danny Wright, Alex Gudger have come into the team, Ryan Boot in goal has done terrificalnately ly well this year after Max O’Leary did well for us last year.
“So I think we’ve recruited quite well in the summer. Do we need a couple more? We probably do. Mr Eales has bought the club with some directors and they want to improve so there may be that scope to bring one or two in. When, I don’t know, but at the moment I wouldn’t swap them – I’m happy with what we’ve got.”
Experience
The summer signings added to quality already in the squad. Midfielder Kyle Storer arrived midway through last season and won the National League with Wright at Cheltenham, while Darren Carter has Premier League experience and knows the division from his time at Forest Green Rovers.
“When Yatesy and myself came in last year, clearly we needed to get some players in quickly otherwise we would have been in the North this year, there’s no doubt about that,” Flowers said.
managed to do that and get the right sorts in. There’s some experience in there. I haven’t got too many kids. I’ve got lads who know their way around this division, lads who have won this division and played at levels just higher.
“So I know when they run out I can trust them. I know they won’t bow down, they won’t give in so I’ll take that all day long.”
That resolve served them well last term as 11 victories from their 26 games in charge helped Yates and his management staff turn the season around. And Flowers is looking for similar steel this time too.
“Listen, we couldn’t come in and pussy-foot around last year,” he said.
“Things had to be done and done quickly if we were going to have any chance of staying up.
“Plan A is to get the ball forward, turn defenders around and make it hot and uncomfortable for them.
“On the whole so far this season we’ve done that quite well.”