ATHERTON COLLS manager Alan Lord is determined to build for the future at Alder House.

"When I came back to the club at the start of last season things were in disarray," he said.

"The club was not the force it should have been. That applied at all levels. It was a bit dead.

"The junior set-up had been allowed to fall apart. There was no continuity, no good lads coming through, no real hope for the future.

"The finger that should have been kept on the pulse had been taken off. Over the last few weeks since the season finished I have taken stock of everything, including my own personal situation.

"And I've come up with my blueprint for the way forward.

"This coming season I intend to front the manager's job. But I intend to bring assistant Chris O'Brien to the forefront.

"He is going to be a tremendous manager . . . full of ideas, enthusiasm, knowledge - and experience as a player.

"Now he needs the experience as team boss and I'm going to try and give him more and more. If all goes well I'll be able to hand over some time during the season.

"I'm also concentrating and attracting young players to the club and building up the youth set-up.

"A club at our level should have a big presence in the local junior scene. At the moment we don't. There should be teams from Atherton Colls in the running as the top sides at every level.

"That will be my aim!"

As outlined in Journal Sport last month, the club is staging a series of summer coaching schools as the preliminary build-up to an Atherton Colls Soccer Academy.

Coaching sessions take place up to August 13 at Alder House with those aged 8, 9, 10 and 11 catered for Monday-Friday (10am-1pm) at £20 per week and the older end (12s, 13s and 14s) in the afternoons (1.30-4.30pm), also at £20 per week.

Qualified FA coaches will supervise sessions which will include passing, shooting and heading techniques, five-a-side competitions and penalty shootouts with T-shirts, prizes and certificates also on offer. Details on 01942-871862.

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