Just keep going: That’s the message from John Reed as the club make a late surge for the Evo Stik Division One North play-offs
John Reed is urging Ossett Town to keep believing in their dream to reach the Evo Stik Division One North play-offs.
Reed celebrated his first win as Ossett manager on Saturday as Chris Ovington’s second half wonder goal earned them a crucial 1-0 victory over top five rivals Bamber Bridge.
Ossett host Salford City tomorrow night, another must-win game in their quest to make a late charge for the play-offs and Reed said: “We just keep going.
“We’re not daft and we look at the table and we’re still eight points away from it.
“I’ve been in the play-offs final before so I know what they’re about and I don’t want to put any more pressure on these lads than what is already on them.
“It is hard, but not impossible (to reach the play-offs). It was a must-win game on Saturday. For us to get the win, it keeps it open for us.
“As I said to them before the game ‘if we lose then maybe we will look to throwing some kids in between now and the end of the season’. But it is still open and still alive.
“We still have ten games left and six of them are at home so that’s 18 points and if you get 18 points, you’re not going to be far away.”
Reed and his assistant Clive Freeman are fearing more departures, but Reed does hope to have a new signing in his team for Salford’s visit.
He also has three or four seven day notice claims in place as he looks to further bolster his squad for the run-in. Jack Wakefield (three games) and Chris Ovington (four games) will also be suspended from next week due to their red cards at Ramsbottom United.
That was Reed’s first game at the helm and looking back on his decision to succeed Craig Elliott, he said: “The first thing is that I’ve never taken a team over so late in a season and being in eighth position.
“I just thought looking at them there was something to build on.
“It was the chance of a new venture, one which could be my last venture.
“I have had two or three offers before here which I turned down because I scout for Bradford City. But I like the chairman (James Rogers) and I think it is a chance for us to build something.
“It is a case of right club, right time, but only time will tell.”
John Reed (left), pictured with his assistant Clive Freeman, led Bridlington to FA Vase glory in the 1990s
Reed has an exceptional record as a manager, spanning four decades. He led Bridlington Town to FA Vase glory at Wembley in the 1990s and has won countless titles with the likes of Hatfield Main, Goole (first spell) and Harrogate Town.
Much to his disappointment, his last two jobs – manager at Goole and coach at Scarborough Athletic – ended prematurely and on the two exits, Reed added: “The second spell at Goole where I was only there for 12 games was a real mistake.
“Before we even kicked a ball Clive said to me ‘I don’t like this one’.
“For the budget they had, I always said they would struggle to get out of the bottom four and unfortunately someone wanted us to be in the top six. You get what you pay for.
“With Scarborough, I was very disappointed with how it ended, but it was just a straightforward thing as myself and Darren France could not work with the manager (Rudy Funk) anymore. I’ve worked in the game a long time and I just couldn’t get on with him.
“I just felt it was best to cut the cord like I did. We had just gone eight games unbeaten and it is not like I left them after they had lost four on the bounce.
“I loved my time there and all the players stay in touch with me. When I got the Ossett job it was amazing how many texts I got from the players. There were only two players that I didn’t text me so that tells me everything.
“I was disappointed because Scarborough is a big club, but unfortunately it did work out.
“I’m a straightforward man, it is all black and white and his way of running football was completely a million miles away from how I do.”