Mark Cooper insists AFC Telford can beat drop
New AFC?Telford United manager Mark Cooper admits beating the drop will be a big task – but insists it's not impossible.
The interim Bucks chief, who arrived at the New Bucks Head yesterday, met his players for the first time at training last night.
The former Kettering Town, Peterborough, Darlington and Tamworth boss has just 16 games left to pull the struggling Blue Square Premier outfit out of the relegation zone.
Cooper has inherited a team that has failed to win any of its last 16 league games and has not scored in its last three matches.
But the 44-year-old is relishing the challenge of replacing Andy Sinton and feels optimistic that survival in the non-league's top-flight is achievable.
He said: "I'm looking forward to it. It is going to be tough but I like a challenge and hopefully we can keep them up.
"It's big but it's not impossible. That is one thing I will stress to the players. It can be done.
"There's 16 games left, there's plenty to play for and, with a little bit of luck, we should be fine I think."
Cooper said that yesterday's move to the Shropshire club happened very quickly but it was a chance that, when offered, he could not refuse.
He said: "It happened very quick. I got a phone call yesterday afternoon asking me if I would be interested and that was it. I was over like a shot and it was done and dusted.
"I only live in the Midlands, so it is not far from me and I am looking forward to getting on with it."
His added that his arrival on transfer deadline day, only hours after previous boss Sinton's departure, came too late to do any business.
But he added that the emergency loan window, which reopens next week, will provide a chance to bolster the squad, although he would also give the current players the chance to impress as well.
Asked if he planned to do any last-minute business, he said: "It's too late now. It probably happened a little bit too late but from next week emergency loans are available.
"The players here deserve a chance so we will see how they go on Saturday."
Cooper, who led Kettering Town to the Blue Square Bet North title in 2007-08, will be in the dugout for tomorrow's home clash with Cambridge United.
He took a watching brief at team training last night while assistant manager Graham Hyde took the session at Telford College of Arts and Technology.
