GRAY IS PRIMED FOR NEXT MISSION

ANDY Gray says he has learnt from mistakes and won’t fall into the same traps if he returns to management after being axed by Corinthian-Casuals.

The one-cap England midfielder won just three of his 21 matches in charge of the Pitching In Isthmian South Central strugglers leading to his departure three days after Christmas.

New chairman Brian Adamson installed the much-travelled former Dulwich Hamlet boss Paul Barnes as Gray’s successor, with one target in mind: to avoid a second successive relegation.

For Gray, 59, it marks the end of a difficult six months in charge which saw him take his first steps into football management following a glittering playing career, a spell as an agent and a brief stint as the Sierra Leone technical director.

Gray feels it has been a steep learning curve with a side newly relegated from Step 3 but expects his replacement to keep the team up.

“They’ve gone for Barnesy and he’ll bring in a whole new team. They’ll stay up but I’m not going to beat myself up,” said the former Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.

“People speak about managerial experience but I’ve played in bigger games than some people can dream of. They talk about me having no experience of Non-League. Why? I started in Non-League.

“I’ll take a lot of stick for this but no problem. I know my worth. I don’t take it personally. The team will go on a run and they’ll be fine. I’m disappointed but learnt a lot.”

Gray built a team from scratch after most of last term’s squad moved on but left with Casuals fighting relegation. They are four points above basement boys Binfield but four adrift of third-bottom Northwood.

His former assistant Sean Boothe has stayed on to work with Barnes and Gray rued his squad’s lack of fitness rather than a lack of cash.

“It’s not about the budget, it is about the players,” he added. “I know if I get another job, my team would have to be the fittest in the league. I wouldn’t let all that happen again.

“I gave loads of players chances. So many got their opportunity with me but the one thing that will stick with me is the fitness. You can’t build a team if the players aren’t fit.

“I wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. I wish Barnesy all the best. If he is the right man, no problem. I’m still a fan of the club.”