New Town manager looks ahead to Northampton Town v Rochdale
Chris Wilder has spoken to the media following his appointment as the new manager of Northampton Town.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I feel refreshed and bang up for the challenge,” he said.
“I had five fantastic years at Oxford and I’d like to thank everybody for my time there and especially the supporters but I think the timing was right for me.
“I’m flattered that the Chairman here has agreed to the deal with Oxford to bring me here and that gives me great belief that he has faith in me and hopefully I can repay him for showing that faith.
“It’s a big job, there are some good players at the football club but it’s also pretty obvious that there are areas of the team that need strengthening.
“We want to make some additions before Friday and I think players coming here will still be attracted by the ambition of the club.
“It’s important that we recruit in the right way and we will be working tirelessly this week to strengthen the squad.
“I have to assess the squad pretty quickly but I’ve done my homework on the players and I know that the Chairman will back me in what I need to do.
“It was a big decision for me to come here but I’m sure I’m the right man for the job, my record speaks for itself in terms of win ratios and progression of a club and building a team.
“Alan Knill has come in with me, Alan is a person that I’ve trusted and known since I was 16 and he’s a great coach.
“He has obviously been a manager as well, he got Bury out of a similar position and he also did a great job at Torquay last season.
“We need to work quickly and work positively, it’s a group effort and as staff we will work together as a team to get the best out of the players.
“We’ve got some big players coming back in Chris Hackett and Mathias Doumbe, I know Chris very well and I actually had Mathias on trial and tried to sign him for Oxford.
“All my teams have been organised and competitive and first and foremost we need to be competitive.
“I want my players to express themselves, be physically strong and mentally strong in the challenges that they face.
“You need to be hard to beat but you also need to have an attacking threat. We want to pass the ball in the right way and be progressive and create opportunities.
“I hope this is a new era for the football club and a new era for the supporters.
“The players have got to do their bit but the supporters have got a massive part to play and hopefully they will create a positive environment for the players.
“I feel I’ve taken a brave but correct decision to come here and I’m a hundred per cent sure I’ve made the right decision.”