Byfield aiming to hit the ground running

The ex-Villa and Walsall striker leads his new club into action at home to AFC Wulfrunians having stepped into the hot-seat last weekend.

Byfield has taken over from his former Saddlers team-mate Gary Birch, who moved into a director of football role due to work commitments, and he can’t wait to get going.

“I’m delighted that I am at a club where there is ambition,” said Byfield, who has had spells in charge of Redditch and Stratford.

“They have some exciting times ahead with the project they have put in place. I’m really excited and I can’t wait to get going.

“I was going out to China for 10 weeks to do some coaching but I decided to turn that down and stay to become manager at Walsall Wood.

“So that shows the commitment and excitement I have got for this project.

“As far as I am concerned, my managerial career starts on Saturday.

“I am at a club where they are realistic about what we can do and patient about what we can do. There are great people above me, I have great staff and we have a very good squad.

“The idea is to win some games and get as many fans through the gates as we can and create an atmosphere here.

“I am not coming in blind. I have watched a lot of teams in this league and I know what it’s about. I know it’s a tough league but we need to pick up points as quickly as we can because we don’t want to drop any further behind Ilkeston.”

Byfield has moved quickly to combat a lengthy injury list by signing former Redditch defender Jack Coates and ex-Stratford winger Zaquib Hussain.

“Jack was with me at Redditch and Zaquib was with me at Stratford,” said Byfield.

“They are younger boys that I think will add something to what we have got.

“We have got a few injuries and you need a big squad.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

Premier Division: Boldmere St Michaels v Lye Town; Coventry Sphinx v Ilkeston Town; Coventry United v Quorn; Long Eaton United v Wolverhampton Sporting Community; Loughborough University v Highgate United; South Normanton Athletic v Worcester City; Sporting Khalsa v Romulus; Stourport Swifts v Shepshed Dynamo; Walsall Wood v AFC Wulfrunians; Westfields v Dunkirk.

Division One: Atherstone Town v Littleton; Chelmsley Town v Brocton; Heath Hayes v Stapenhill; Hinckley AFC v Studley; Leicester Road v Coventry Copsewood; Nuneaton Griff v Rocester; Paget Rangers v Cadbury Athletic; Racing Club Warwick v Heather St Johns; Uttoxeter Town v Lichfield City.