John Ward - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 22 August 2008 By Thetashkentterror

John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Friday evening ahead of tomorrow's away game at Leyton Orient, Ward also talking about the news that earlier this week Reading won the race to sign striker Dave Mooney from Cork City :


" We set off early this morning at 10am and we have trained at Huntingdon Football Club, they have been really good to us. I think that the club have used there two or three years ago as well, so they remembered that, allowed us to use their facilities and we have got ourselves just down here in time for the evening meal, so it has worked out very well. Everybody is fit and well too bar Chris Lumsdon and Josh Gowling.

" We had information about Dave Mooney in July, they have a summer season across in Ireland and I travelled across there at the beginning of July to see a game at Cork City. I liked the player, spoke to people at the club and a few days later we put an offer in. They put it to the player, the player said that he wished to go a little bit higher and get into the Championship, and so it has proved, that is what he has done.

" So it just shows that we were on the right lines I think with our scouting system. Stuart Gray has got it very well organised and the information coming back lets the scouts know that we have followed that up as well. So we knew that it was a bit of a long shot in a way, once I had seen him I knew that this young man could play football. I think that he has got 15 goals in 22 games so it shows the pedigree of the young fellow.

" Reading have got a really good record of getting players out of Ireland and into their first-team. So we have missed out because the lad went into the Championship, but it shows that we are looking at the right things. It was at the change of ownership and I think that the current board were happy to support my views on what we were doing, but unfortunately we didn't make it. We kept it quiet at the time, there is no point shouting about it at that period. We thought we might even have another go at it but it is not to be. "



" I am expecting a pretty quiet week on the transfer front. We have got three big games and I think that is enough for us to deal with. If we have any problems that we just suddenly pick up, like Josh for instance out for three of four weeks, then we might have to look at it. The loan period opens a week after the window shuts permanently and that is something that we can utilise if we need to. There is absolutely no substance in any rumour about Danny Livesey.

" We played very well at Leyton Orient last year and I think that Martin Ling the manager accepted that and put his hands up. They did have a player sent off (JJ Melligan) as well, so it was a day where everything went against them. I'm sure that Martin has used that as a motivation tool with his players this week, and that is something that we have got to be aware of. If we have got any complacency after our start then we will get our backsides kicked in football terms, and that is something that we don't want to happen.

" We pointed that out to the team this afternoon when we were doing the training period. Saying that if we can get it right, we know that we have got a good pitch, we know that we can play on there if it is an open game, and we expect the home team to come at us, then we can compete with them. We certainly need to be in the right frame of mind though and if we are not then Leyton Orient will get their own back on us, and that is something that we don't want to happen. So we have got to get our attitude spot on and I'm sure that the team will do.

" I used that motivation myself at Bristol Rovers and again I have talked to the players about that. It is something that we said about last year, we had a poor game there and came back and rectified it in a way. This time we have got to make sure that we are not the ones being the fall guys, the ones getting beat. We've talked about it, it is up to the players to prepare well now, we made the team selection this afternoon and they know what they are doing, so hopefully we can get that right. "



" I am very much surprised that only two teams have two wins, I think that might show the openness of the league as it crops up. Take for instance last Saturday Stockport and Leicester drew, and only three or four months ago they were two leagues apart. So it is that kind of league I think, I think that Peterborough and MK Dons have got the financial clout to come up and do very well in our league. People like Colchester United and Scunthorpe have come down with experience from the Championship, and players that have played at that level.

" So it all enhances the league in my view, points now are very important again and only two of us have managed maximum points after two matches. It is quite unusual when you look at the other leagues but it may epitomise how the league is going to be as the season unfolds. I think that it is going to be pretty tight and anybody that can put a run together is going to have a good chance of moving up the table. We're starting, if that is the right phrase, if we can pick it up again tomorrow, to put that run together now, which is always good.

" We have talked a lot about the preparations for these two away games. We checked a lot of things, train times, flight times, coaches and whatever, we decided that the best thing was to do what we are doing. Which was come down today, play Saturday, go back home, let the boys have Sunday at home, recover, and then on Monday we have got the training day which starts at 10.30am, which is free to the supporters. I think that is a nice day, a relaxation day, a day to mingle with the kids and the other people and say that we are all part of a community together.

" Then on the afternoon we will get on the coach and go down and do some business on the following Tuesday, the next day, at Queens Park Rangers. So a lot of travelling but we can get there the day prior to the game and that gets everything out of the journey, gets the journey away and everybody can prepare for the game. So yes it is a bit of a trek but it is something that we are used to. It's tough on the supporters, very expensive and time consuming for them, but as footballers we have got the chance to prepare a little bit better. "