A TRIP to third-placed Braintree Town might not have been the ideal introduction for Boreham Wood's new player-managers Lee Harvey and Micky Engwell, but despite Saturday's (December 8) 2-0 defeat, Harvey is optimistic they can make a successful transition.

"It (management) is something we both wanted to do," said Harvey, 32, but added he had intended to wait until after his playing career.

"But when Danny approached me, explaining the situation, I spoke to Micky and we made the decision. There's only four months of the season left."

However, while initially intended to act as caretaker managers until the summer, it is now understood that their position is with a view to becoming more permanent. "We are going to review the situation in the summer," Harvey said.

Harvey and Engwell have already taken responsibility for the budget and the signing of new players: "We might have two new faces in by Saturday, a striker and midfielder, but we're not looking to make wholesale changes."

Of their first game in charge, two goals early in the second half settled the outcome, but Wood have almost a full-strength squad to pick from ahead of Saturday's away fixture away at Bedford Town.

Meanwhile, St Albans City have been in decisive mood on the pitch despite off-field troubles and Saturday's 5-1 victory at Billericay Town represented a fifth consecutive league win for the Saints.

For Billericay, who earlier in the season had knocked City out of the FA Cup, this marked their heaviest home defeat at New Lodge for 14 months.

The Saints are away to Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday, December 15, hoping to reverse the 3-1 home defeat they suffered against them on the opening day of the season.

For the rest of the weekend's Ryman League action, see The Watford Observer of Friday, December 14.

December 14, 2001 11:30