LORDS ROLE EXCITES ANSLOW
Updated: Aug 1, 2019
New Lordswood boss Darren Anslow has spoken with the Medway Messenger newspaper to give his first interview since taking on the manager role at the club.
Anslow joined the Lords from Isthmian League side Whitstable Town where he had spent the last season as a coach. But the lure of having another crack at managing proved to strong and Anslow admitted that as much as he loved his time at Whitstable, there was a burning desire for him to see what he can do as a manager, having previously had shortlived stints in the hot seat at Rochester United and Chatham Town.
Joining Anslow at Martyn Grove will be Rob Gillman, while Owen Price also joins having left SCEFL Division One side Lewisham Borough.
Anslow said: "I have got people around me that are second to none. A lot of top clubs have been trying to sign Rob this summer and to get him at the club is massive. It wouldn't have happened had he not been my assistant and it's a great first signing.
"We're all a bit different. I've calmed down a bit although i'm still quite hyper. Rob is calm and Owen has so much knowledge of the game that rubs off on others.
"It was massive to be able to put that team together and to know i had them behind me when i had the interview. It would have been a bit different doing it on my own."
Anslow is keen to replicate the environment he experienced at Whitstable. He said: "One thing i have learnt from my time at Whitstable is about the atmosphere at the club. I'm not going to just sign anyone, i want the right kind of changing room and that is going to be worth points.
"We need to bring in the right kind of characters and that's what we're working on."
Anslow, who is an academy coach at Bromley FC admits it's tough to have dropped down a level but believes there is plenty to work with at Lordswood.
"It's a big decision," he said. "I want to get back into the Isthmian League. It's going to take time but hopefully we can build something here.
"Look at what Corinthian and Fisher did last season. We will look at what they did well but we will only be concerned about ourselves, nobody else."
Putting a team together is now Anslow's main job, with many of last season's Lordswood squad following previous manager Richard Styles to Tunbridge Wells, and Joe Kane moving to local rivals Chatham Town.
"I'm quite excited and it's like a blank canvas for us," said Anslow. "I've been phoning players from last season's squad and chatting to them. We will look to bring in players but it's an open book, it's whoever is best suited to the position. I'm not going to disregard anyone."
The full interview and report can be found at Kent Online https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/anslows-burning-desire-206959/
