HIGH TIME FOR A NASH AND GRAB
Cunningham has plans for Curzon
STEVE Cunningham is determined to get Curzon Ashton making some noise again.
The National League North unlikely lads have overturned all the odds as they prepare for a sixth season at Step 2.
But instead of aiming solely on avoiding a relegation battle and maintaining their National League North status, new boss Cunningham wants the club to be looking upwards.
The Nash finished 20th last season under the points-pergame formula and having taken over from Mark Bradshaw last month, the former Colne boss has been hard at work making improvements both on and off the field at Tameside Stadium.
“Some people have said to me it’s a suicide mission, I don’t see it that way,” Cunningham,
below, told The NLP. “I’ve been at the club seven nights in the last 14. I’ve been painting the dressing rooms, strimming the pitch, organising training, meeting players and greeting sponsors. I’m doing everything I can to get people talking about Curzon. I want us to make some noise.
Skillset
“The club have been fantastic. They’re working really hard to make sure whatever we do off the field allows us to still compete. They know it’s not easy, but I was hugely successful at Colne on limited resources. Using younger players and getting the most out of older ones is what I do. “I have to use my skillset and take risks. There’s been a raid on the established group of players at the club. Danny Shaw has retired; Andy Halls and Sean Miller have gone to Chorley. Cam Mason, Robbie Evans, Liam Daniels and James Baillie are still here as a solid core group from which we can grow.
“I hate the saying ‘let’s stay up’. Hate it. If you keep trying to survive, you will eventually be relegated. My first ambition is I want to finish in the top 12. In reality, I am aiming for the play-offs.
“I won’t be playing 5-4-1. One centre-forward will not be happening. We are going to go and try to win football matches. If we lose, we lose in style and knowing we’ve left it all on the pitch.”
Sweet shop
Curzon fans will certainly welcome a more attacking approach. The Manchester-based club scored just 34 goals in 33 matches last term.
Although no signings have been confirmed yet, the enthusiastic manager and his assistant Damien Crossley have set their sights on composing an exciting blend of youth and experience.
“The squad will have an average age of around 22,” the 40-year-old added. “There is going to be experience added so away from home we will not fear anybody. York, Boston, Blyth – horrible places to go on a Tuesday night is where that knowhow will become vital. Tip us for relegation, we’ll feed off that.
“I’m like a kid in a sweet shop, I look at the stadium and think ‘wow’. I want players to have that feeling as well.
“Enthusiasm is infectious, but so is a lack of it. If the players can thrive off my passion and drive, we are halfway there to winning football matches.”