Sneekes believes he can lead Rushall Olympic to safety
West Brom hero Richard Sneekes believes he can save Rushall Olympic from relegation and has stressed an importance on having good home form.
The former Albion midfielder was confirmed as Adam Stevens’ permanent successor on Wednesday, and is joined by Steve Hinks and former Walsall midfielder Sam Mantom in his coaching team.
The Dutchman previously managed Rushall from 2014 to 2016 before going on to lead Sutton Coldfield Town to survival in 2017.
Rushall sit rock bottom of the National League North, eight points from safety and visit seventh-placed Chorley tomorrow.
And, the former Albion favourite remains optimistic about the Pics’ survival chances.
“If I didn’t think it was possible I wouldn’t take the job of course,” said Sneekes.
“When I first took over at Sutton we were in exactly the same position, eight points adrift, 20 games with 12 points and we had the right characters in the team to get us out of it.
“The home form will be key. I am not going to lie it will be tough and at step two there are a lot of teams that have got massive budgets, are full-time and have players that should be in the league.
“We are up against it, but who doesn’t want to be up against it and prove people wrong. That is what we are going to try and do.
“Every game is a big game, we don’t look too far ahead but just the next game and how we can approach it and get something from it.
“We need to start winning home games and start sneaking a few points on the road.
“If you look at the league form as it has been, that just hasn’t happened, so that has to change if we want to be successful in staying up and we have got every confidence that we can do that.”
Rushall have struggled during their second year at step two non-league football, collecting just three league wins from 21 matches.
Asked if he will be looking to make changes to his squad, Sneekes said: “Your hands are always bound by what you can bring in. It is difficult, in the step below a lot of teams have good budgets and a lot of players are on contract.
“If we want to change things it has got to be the right thing for us but the team and the club.
“We haven’t got the pulling power that a lot of clubs in the area have, so we have got to give them a platform to present themselves and that is really the way we have to go about it.
”Changes will be subtle and as and when somebody comes available they have to make us better.”
Elsewhere, fourth-placed Kidderminster Harriers will look to extend their five game unbeaten run visiting Chester.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Central Premier Stourbridge go to AFC Telford. Liam McDonald’s side sit three points in fifth behind Bucks while second-placed Halesowen Town host Redditch United sitting three points from top spot.
