Big Ron to dust off tracksuit

Halesowen 'consultant' Ron Atkinson reckons the Yeltz are capable of replicating his Kettering side by claiming back-to-back promotions.

But the former Villa and Albion boss, who was unveiled last week at The Grove, has warned manager Morell Maison not to let ambition cloud his focus.

Atkinson has returned to his Southern League roots with the Yeltz after guiding Kettering to the league title in 1973 - the second of two successive championship wins.

And he reckons the ambitious Maison has what it takes to lead a successful phase of Halesowen history after the two men worked together in Atkinson's second spell at Kettering.

He said: "When I first went to Kettering we were in a similar position to this club, halfway up the table.

"From there we went on to win the league and then carried on to win the next section so it will be interesting.

"I like anybody who is enthusiastic and Morell has that.

"Sometimes one of the biggest problems I have is trying to kerb his enthusiasm and say 'look, take a step back and take a bit of a look'.

"One thing I always said to him at Kettering was to focus on each game. I know it's a cliche but it's true.

"You can sometimes look a little bit further ahead but you can't look two years ahead.

"Having said that you have to have ambition and give that to everybody and he will genuinely believe he can get this club into the Conference within a couple of years.

"There is nothing wrong with having that ambition."

After agreeing to step in to help out Maison in an informal role, Atkinson was impressed with his re-introduction to The Grove.

"I played here for the Villa reserve team a long time ago and it's a far tidier ground now," he said.

"It's a very big pitch and I'm quite impressed by how neat and tidy it all is.

"It looks a bit tidier than Kettering because that had been a bit run down."

Atkinson admitted the call to help Maison in his new job came out of the blue despite the two staying in touch following their departure from Kettering, where Atkinson was director of football and Maison was manager.

But he is determined to help his friend and is even considering dusting off his tracksuit at the age of 68.

He said: "I didn't realise he had got the job until last Monday night when he rang me and asked me what I was doing.

"That's when he said he wanted me involved at Halesowen.

"Initially I said 'behave yourself' but we had one or two meetings and eventually I said I would come down and give him whatever assistance I could.

"The best advantage I can be is helping him to improve the team.

"I can do that through certain observations I make about the team but he makes all the decisions.

"Whatever decision he wants to make I will just have some input into. I think he wants to get me involved on the coaching side of things and when commitments allow I will come down and do a bit of that.

"I enjoy being out with players.

"When I first started I had to do everything, a bit like Morell is going to have to do here.

"Managers have to do a bit of everything in non-league - the training, the coaching the scouting and you seem to have to work 24 hours a day.

"I'm not quite sure league managers have to do as much as that now."