Tower Hamlets joint-manager AJ Ashinike believes the confidence is high in the squad for the 2017/18 Essex Senior League season.
The Mile End Stadium-based club found themselves in a relegation battle last season but are now hoping to change their fortunes this campaign.
Former player-manager Ashinike has high hopes and believes the side shouldn’t even be worrying about the thought of relegation this time round.
“We know we have enough in this team to survive and it’s just all about looking up the table and seeing how far we can go this season,” he said.
“We’re just going to take it game by game and not think about the table too much.”
The manager is pleased with the squad that he and joint boss Ade Abayomi have assembled for the upcoming campaign.
“We have got a good side together, we have got young lads and hungry lads and the season is looking good for us I believe,” he added. “We have got a massive squad so some of the boys are going to be sent out on loan starting next week to get them some more match time.”
Tower Hamlets have already played two matches this season, losing to Redbridge and drawing with Hackney Wick, but Ashinike believes they played well in both encounters.
The club looked set to win against promotion candidates Redbridge on the opening day, but suffered a late defeat, as the opposition scored twice in the final minutes for a 2-1 win.
Hamlets then went on to draw 1-1 against newly-formed rivals Hackney Wick in their second match of the season and Ashinike believes the confidence is still high and the wins will come. “The confidence is high in the group,” he admitted.
“Even after they drew against Hackney Wick they all knew they should have beaten them and were disappointed, that shows the signs of a good team.”
The joint-manager admits his side have put the pressure on themselves and have high hopes, but he believes they need to just focus on each game, not where they aim to finish.
“The boys are thinking they want to finish in the top five and people who look at my squad see it and say that’s a top-five team,” he said. “I don’t want to get carried away and just want us to take it game by game and see how far we can go.”
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