Nelson's tough boss will turn it around

5:14pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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NELSON chairman Alan Pickering has backed new tough-line boss Jon Westall to end the club's mediocre league form.

The Blues went through three different managers last season as they finished bottom of Vodkat League Division One with just five wins and 23 points to their name.

Terry Fildes, Denny Khan and Nick Jackson-Cooney all came and went in a difficult campaign.

However, the Victoria Park club were spared relegation following a Vodkat League re-structuring, and now it is Westall’s turn in the Blues hot-seat.

With four days to go before the new season, Pickering believes the new manager has the know-how to take the club forward.

"Obviously, we were given a reprieve last season and now we've got to take advantage of it," said Pickering.

"We finished bottom of the league last season because we weren't good enough – and that was down to the management.

"Terry Fildes left us in September and things didn't get any better under Denny. At the end of the day, the managers know their job relies on getting results.

“They knew what the situation was in terms of budget and what was available to them. No-one could have any complaints.

“Jon Westall is an old-school manager, not really a coach. But he manages people – that's his job, and he's very good at it.

"He might be a tough-line manager, but he's also very fair. He will give everyone a chance, but if he feels the players are messing him about, he will do something about it.

"But he's recruited well this summer and we're looking forward to a good season.

"We've just battered Kendal 5-0 in pre-season and they brought all their players. It was a great performance."

Despite two poor campaigns, Pickering is now confident Nelson can mount a proper push up the Premier Division table this term.

He added: "For the last two seasons, we've been scrapping about at the bottom of the table.

"That won’t happen this year but I'm not looking for us to do anything more than consolidate our league position and finish in mid-table."

Nelson start their campaign this Saturday with a trip to Ashton Athletic.