Barcelona-style football is a priority for new manager

Barcelona-style football could be about to be embedded into the fabric of AFC Sudbury — but Jamie Godbold has warned fans it will take time.

Tiki-taka football is very much at the heart of new Yellows’ manager Godbold’s footballing philosophy and he believes he can coach his principles into the squad.

Ahead of what would be his first game in the dugout at AFC — weather permitting — at home to Maldon and Tiptree (16th) on Saturday (3pm), Godbold has warned there will be no instant revolution through, with previous caretaker and newly-appointed director of football Danny Laws set to pick the team until Godbold has a feel for the squad.

But an eye-catching style of football is definitely high up on his list of things to do.

Ahead of meeting the players for the first time at training tonight, he said: “It is important the ball is being played on the floor.

“It is a philosophy of mine and Andy’s (Reynolds, assistant manager) to get the ball down and the higher you go up the leagues I know the more difficult that can become, but we are coaches by trade.

“It will certainly take time, but time is certainly something we have.”

Godbold admitted he does not know how long a contract he has, though insists chairman Philip Turner made it clear he has been brought in with the long-term in mind, especially with regards to his record of developing young players in the first-team at lower league Kirkley and Pakefield over the past 18 months.

“It was important my philosophy matched the club’s,” said the FA regional coach, who only turned 35 on Saturday. “And there is an emphasis on youth, but not throwing in willy-nilly; they do need to gain experience.

“In terms of the youth structure set-up, that was a big reason for me coming to the club.

“Gone are the days when Sudbury could throw thousands of pounds around on bringing players in.

“I am a coach by trade and I develop players — that will be what I do; improve the people that are there.

“That is what I did at Kirkley and it worked, and hopefully it will work here.”

Laws was a former manager of Godbold’s at Needham Market and he sees no problem with having a director of football looking over him.

He said: “Danny took me on loan from Lowestoft to Needham Market where I spent time under him and he is a clever individual.

“He was instrumental with myself coming here and he is another experienced person around the club to help take Sudbury forward.”

But Godbold is the edler statesman of the new management duo, with assistant Reynolds — a former goalkeeper who ended his player career early at Lowestoft to be a coach — only 28.

“Andy is quite keen on not being seen as just a goalkeeper specialist,” said the new AFC chief. “He should be in his prime, but he has been wanting to coach now for years and years.”

Of his new club, he said: “It has a fantastic history and the facilities are some of the best in non-League and it is just about trying to match them up with what goes on the pitch.”

AFC saw their scheduled Robert Dyas Ryman League Cup quarter-final at Witham Town postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Tuesday, with the rearranged game taking precedent over their league game with Thamesmead Town this Tuesday (7.45pm) instead.