West happy with Robins' progress (From Cotswold Journal)

West happy with Robins' progress

11:00am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport

BOSS Paul West believes progress is being made as he attempts to bring stability to Evesham United.

West’s main task since taking over from Matt Clarke in October was to steady the ship at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium by keeping a settled side and improving players’ attitudes and fitness levels.

Although the Robins are still placed in mid-table in Evo-Stik Southern Football League Division One South and West after starting 2013 with a 1-0 defeat at Merthyr Town, West is so far satisfied.

He admits there is still plenty of work to be done but reckons things are heading in the right direction ahead of Saturday’s trip to Clevedon Town (3pm).

“The performances have been good but it’s about building on that and not getting carried away,” West said.

“Are we where I would like us to be? No, but all I can ask of every player is to give 100 per cent for the club.

“If they do that we won’t be too far away. We are getting there slowly but surely.

“We need to get the right characters in the dressing room and some continuity because every week there have been three or four changes.

“There are some tough games coming up for us but it’s just trying to settle down and make sure the players know each other on and off the park.”

The Evesham manager added: “As much as we didn’t get the result at Merthyr, the display was good.

“It’s about performance more often than not for us.

“The players were bitterly disappointed not to get anything from the game but we can take a lot of positives out of the display.”

Captain Matt Sysum played through the pain barrier with an ankle injury at Merthyr but the postponement of last weekend’s home match against Abingdon United, because of a waterlogged pitch, has given him extra time to recover.

Midfielder Simon Fitter completes a three-game ban which has been delayed because of games being called off.