As a new era begins at MEMS Priestfield this weekend with the visit of Fleetwood Town, Jack Nolan is one man who has played for new boss John Coleman before and is relishing the “clean slate” that the new man will bring. 

Speaking to KSN at this week’s briefing ahead of the Fleetwood visit, talking about the new management team, Nolan admitted, “For me personally talking from my own experience of them at Accrington, they got the best out of me!

“There was a lot of tough love, I won’t shy away from that but that got me ticking and that worked and I have no doubt that other players in the squad will benefit from that and get us firing on all cylinders hopefully.

“It will not be an overnight success, but hopefully in the next few weeks you will see the start of how they want to play and their philosophy coming through in the way that we play.” 

“I know that personally I haven’t been at my level and I can admit that but I know it’s there and just have to try and find my confidence back, hopefully myself and the other lads, because we are low on confidence and that is clear to see. Hopefully we can get some results together, get some good results together and get our confidence back before going onto show why we are at the Football club as we’re all here for a reason.” 

“I don’t think their approach will be a shock, I think the players will know that what they are doing is designed to get the very best out of the individuals and the team. They want to come here and achieve something if they can and I can vouch that they are very good at getting everyone on board and hopefully that will happen here at Priestfield too!” 

“Mark leaving was a shock to us,” Nolan admitted. “Obviously the results haven’t been good enough, but we still didn’t expect it on Sunday!

“John and Jimmy (Bell) have come in and I know them well from my time at Accrington and it’s been good the last few days training all building up to Saturday, which has to be our main aim!” 

“We knew that results were not where we wanted them to be, and I think we have to take responsibility as players as it’s not all necessarily on the coaching staff, I do think we have to take responsibility as well as we haven’t been at our best.

“So, Sunday was a surprise with the timing, but then that’s football, Mark (Bonner) and Haysie (Anthony Hayes) are brilliant blokes and brilliant coaches and I have no doubts that they will go onto better things and go again.” 

“But for us now as players we have to get behind John and Jimmy and give them our all to string some results together and get up the table. We were all brought here to try to achieve something and I think we now have to ignore the outside noise. We do see it, and we do hear it but at the end of the day we were all brought here for a reason because we do have ability and we have a talented squad and we do have to try and string that together which has been the clear message that we have had in the last few days.” 

“Change can be good, and having worked with them before I know exactly what they are all about, so I am trying to pass that onto the lads as we’ll so that we are all buying into what they want to achieve between now and the end of the season.” 

“From my experience, I know that the Gaffer will demand hard work, a lot of running and I know from my time with them at Accrington that there will be no favourites and we all have to earn our place. For me selfishly, they got the best out of me and that took time!

“I think for everyone, it’s a fresh start and looking ahead for Saturday and the team selection, we have all been told that all places are up for grabs. Everyone has been at it in training and hopefully that will continue.” 

“Fleetwood will be a good side on Saturday, and for us it’s trying to create a plan to try to see how we can put our foot down and whilst the past few games haven’t been the best for us, hopefully we can turn it into some good results in the future starting Saturday!

“Players will have to work hard to earn the right to play and earn the right to dominate games, which I think watching us on Saturday, how we set out will be good for the picture and how they do want to play.

“They have said for us that formations will change whatever that may look like, but fundamentals are that we will be a hard-working side.”