Tower Hamlets manager AJ Ashanike says he knew his new-look side would take time to gel as they still desperately search for their first win in the Essex Senior League.

The Mile End-based outfit will travel to the league’s new boys Saffron Walden Town on Saturday as they look to put an end to their miserable start to the new campaign.

“I obviously expected it would take a lot of time for us to gel together with lots of new faces,” said Ashanike.

“We never had a good pre-season under our belts either to be fair, but we’re working hard to try getting the first win and I’m sure once we get that we’ll be alright. It’s just when and how we’re going to get it.”

Ashanike expects it to be a tough test against The Bloods and admits he was impressed when he watched them.

“Saffron Walden are a new team to the league and I’ve seen them play once, they were a really good side, and one of my mates Lewis Francis plays for them as well so we know it’s not going to be easy.”

Tower Hamlets have also moved to bring in Anton Stevenson to the club to help out with the coaching.

Ashanike added: “I’ve brought in Anton Stevenson into my backroom staff so that should give us a bit of edge going into the game and hopefully we can get three points.”

Halets go into the clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Stansted last weekend in a match where they had their goalkeeper sent off.

“Saturday’s game was really hard to take to be fair, we got our keeper sent off in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the game, and it absolutely killed us,” added Ashanike.

“We were soon 2-0 down so that was frustrating. We’ve got three keepers so one of them is going to step up and hopefully if they play well on Saturday then they can keep that shirt.”

Ashanike also lamented being out of the FA Cup and Vase already, adding: “Financially as a club it’s a blow for us we crashed out early but looking at it for the league it may be a good thing.

“Now we have nothing to focus on apart from the league, the league cup and Gordon Brasted. We will be giving them to the youth team to play in.

“The team know what the priority is now, they know my targets and they’ve set their own targets as well.”