Russell Milton after taking caretaker charge of Cheltenham Town for the 2-1 home defeat by Bury:
I’m chuffed to bits and proud to be in charge and pleased the chairman asked me to do it. Obviously we’ve lost and that’s the ultimate that we’ve lost again but I felt the spirit of the boys was fantastic. Right from the start we got on the front foot we had a good four or five minutes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but we let a goal in which has been indicative of how the team has been this season. We didn’t really give ourselves a platform after that, we conceded on 17 but after that I thought we looked really good. We pressed on the right foot and we had a load of threat in Wes Burns and Denny (Johnstone) was a handful up front, with Eliot (Richards) buzzing around him. I’ve said to the boys look don’t be too disappointed with this, although if you give me that for 15 games, or whoever’s in charge for 15 games I think you’ll be alright.
We said whatever happens in the game we’ve got to stay positive, stay on the front foot and get around each other. I felt we did and I felt it showed good character when we went 2-0 down to come back. It’s a great goal from Denny, worked hard for it and he worked hard all game and took it well and we’re back in it. We said too the boys at the break don’t be too disheartened because we’re back in it. I thought in the second half we were camped up there and it’s just the end product we lacked and I don’t think they had a shot in the second half. That part was pleasing it’s just that final part we need to do.
If you haven’t got spirit then you haven’t got anything, so you might as well not go out there. We always had it back in the day and that was our number one rule and remit to get that back in, to get that back in to the boys. I think they showed a lot of fight and effort and determination in there, I just felt it was that final bit we just lacked in the end, but we’ve certainly got to stop conceding two goals every game.
It was all done in a rush really. Late Thursday night and Friday morning we sat about talking about what we were going to do for today and he just said we’ll prepare for that and then have a chat on Monday. We’ll see what Monday brings.
I’d love the job. For me personally it’s a way forward. I’m ready for it, I know the club. It’s great to have Steve (Elliott), Steve Book and Jamie (Victory) in with you, we all know each other and we all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so I would love it. I’m proud as punch to be manager.