New Oxhey Jets manager Bob Wyatt hopes to help give his players more belief and insists securing safety in the South Midlands Premier Division is his priority this season.

Wyatt has been in charge of the club's reserve team for five years but has taken over the top job at Oxhey after Wayne Gladdy's resignation in September.

The new boss, whose side are third bottom in the division, said: "Safety is paramount to our season. That's our main goal. We are still in a few cups but they are secondary to the league."

Wyatt has noticed the team have suffered from low morale this season and hopes his promotion will help reinvigorate their campaign.

He said: "The side are third bottom and there is obviously a core problem there. Losing becomes a habit just as winning does. Their morale is quite low and it is very easy to slip into a negative attitude and shoulders can slump when they concede a goal.

"I'm confident in the lads we have. I just feel that we need to re-energise them a bit and try to lift their morale."

Wyatt added: "My teams have always been difficult to beat and we need to instil a bit more fight and belief in the side."

His first game certainly went to plan after a 4-1 win at St Margaretsbury in the Herts Senior Cup on Tuesday which secured a home tie with St Albans City in the next round.

Oxhey found themselves 1-0 down after 36 minutes but they responded positively and levelled in injury time through debutant Beau Shulman.

The Jets took the lead in the second half when Ant Shepherd's header was fumbled into the net by the goalkeeper.

Another debutant Sam Clark fired home before Martin Netzer added the fourth goal after 70 minutes.

Shulman was sent off late on but it is set to be rescinded after the officials admitted they made a mistake.

Wyatt said: "It wasn't football at its purest but the lads did well. I don't want to get over-confident because it won't all be solved in one game but I couldn't have asked any more from them."

The new manager hopes he is able to unite the club and use his experience with the reserve team to help all the players integrate.

He said: "I want to unify the club. There always seems to be a gap from the first team to the reserves. But I want to unite the club and make everyone feel part of the first-team squad and feel as one. It will take a fair bit of work but the goal is to have a united team with one goal."

The manager's first league game in charge is tomorrow at Leverstock Green.