AFC Telford task remains the same to Phil Trainer
The manager may have changed but Phil Trainer insists the job will remain the same as it has for weeks when AFC Telford host Cambridge at the New Bucks Head.
The tough-tackling midfielder admits that the departure of previous boss Andy Sinton yesterday came as a shock.
And after playing under Sinton for the last two-and-a-half years he felt saddened to see the back of his long-time boss.
But, with the Bucks firmly embroiled in the relegation zone, and time running out to kick-start a season-saving revival, there will be little time to dwell on sentiment or the past ahead of tomorrow's crucial match.
Trainer, who arrived at the club under Rob Smith, said: "Obviously you form a manager-player relationship so it does affect you a little bit but it's football at the end of the day and you have got to carry on.
"I'm employed by AFC Telford and I have got to still turn up and do my job. I got on well with the manager. He kept me. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here so I'm saddened but you have got to move on.
"We will go into Saturday with the same attitude, trying to get three points and trying to get out of the position we are in."
Trainer is also familiar with Sinton's current replacement Mark Cooper, who was at training last night, having played under him at Tamworth during the 2003-04 season.
His faith in the quality with the squad has not wavered despite the team's alarming 16 match winless run in the league.
And he is hopeful that a change of manager, and perhaps some new recruits, will help give the team the lift needed to claw their way to safety.
"Possibly we needed a fresh start," he said. "Fresh players always helps but a new manager brings different ideas. I played for and played against Mark Cooper.
"He knows this league quite well. He has always done well with his teams in this league and hopefully we can work well together, help him and get the points we need to stay up."
If past encounters are anything to go by, the post-Sinton era could get off to a thrilling start tomorrow.
Trainer said that previous encounters with the U's have often been well-contested spectacles, and the last game between the sides, a breathless 3-3 draw, in September, was of epic proportions.
But Trainer would happily settle for a dull, awkward single-goal win this time around to get Telford's survival campaign under Cooper off to the perfect start.
He said: "I'd definitely take a boring 1-0. We always have good games with Cambridge.
"The last one was 3-3. That was a great game for the neutrals but we are just focused on getting the three points and moving up the league."
