Cheltenham Town FC

"I have been working with Neil (Howarth) for 8 and-a-half years and he has been brilliant for me and brilliant for this football club whilst he has been here. I would like go on record and thank him for that. Was I happy about the decision? Far from it but am I professional enough to to deal with it, get on with it and build again? Without a shadow of a doubt I am. Neil has been a rock for me and it's a shame we wont be together but we both know that's football and I'd like to thank him and wish him well with whatever he does next.

"A decent home performance, which there hasn't been enough of, will go some way towards getting some of the frustration out from the season, the last couple of weeks and the last week. We want to put some smiles back on everybody's faces and that's what we are trying to do. We want to give everyone a bit of hope and belief that we are going to be good enough to put something together next season but also to finish this season with three points, on a bit of a high and maybe move up one or two places as well.

"It has been a frustrating season. All I want to do is put the team out with one or two things changes around or freshened up if you like and the boys will go out there with the instructions to entertain the crowd and give them something to cheer about but also to work hard. That's the plan and training has been bright all week so hopefully that continues tomorrow.

"Joe Hanks worked hard last weekend. Let's not get carried away because he couldn't do any worse than what was put out there in the first half because I thought the midfield was pretty inept on Saturday. Joe came in and strengthened us and he showed what determination, grit and hard work can do but he also has a pass in him as well. There's one or two kids who are going to get a chance tomorrow maybe so hopefully they will take it. They will have to deal with the pitch not being the best, some expectation from the crowd but hopefully they see that we have a few youngsters in the team and really get behind them to give them a boost.

"Kids show no fear sometimes. Joe did well out at Gloucester and he has been on loan few times this season. He has had a tough season and has fallen behind a little bit at times but he has shown great strength in character and he is a good kid - a really good kid. I spoke to Tim Harris when I was calling him back and he was very complimentary and full of praise of him. One or two deserve a chance and they will get that tomorrow.

"We need some noise and I am asking the supporters to get behind the players at the start of the game. Hopefully they will like the line-up and that we are giving a couple of youngsters a game because they deserve it and it is the right stage of the season to do that. We could have done a few weeks earlier had we been mathematically sorted and I didn't think it was perhaps right. Just get behind the team and the boys wearing a Cheltenham shirt and hopefully with more atmosphere and encouragement from everybody then hopefully we can turn 1-0 leads into wins rather than defeats.

"As a staff we have looked at them (Dagenham & Redbridge) and have done a bit of analysis but we will concentrate on our own boys to give them the freedom and structure to work hard for each other. First of all to win the game, entertain the crowd, score some goals and do the basics whilst enjoying themselves. If they do that then everyone should go home happy.