Ellis confident Bluebirds can make it right (From Western Telegraph)

Ellis confident Bluebirds can make it right

5:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Pembrokeshire sports news

Haverfordwest County manager Mike Ellis has shared his thoughts with the Telegraph Sport regarding his team’s plight in Welsh League division one this season.

It’s been a tough time for The Bluebirds who had a poor start to the campaign, but have now settled down and picked up eight victories. They currently sit fifth in the table.

“Realistically I want to finish in the top three. We have to keep playing well and scoring goals. We have been doing that lately,” he said.

New signing Darren Griffiths has made an immediate impact scoring eight goals in five games, and he has formed a deadly partnership with Nicky Woodrow, who has just returned to the team after suffering early injury and getting married.

“Confidence is high at the moment,” admitted Ellis.

With only 11 matches of the season left that’s 33 points up for grabs. The Bluebirds have four matches at the Conygar Bridge Meadow and seven away.

“I’ve set our squad a target of 25 points from those matches and if we accomplish that then we will have to see where we stand then.”

After suffering the bitter disappointment of relegation from the Welsh Premier last season, Ellis took over as manager with assistant Wayne Jones, and their plan was to consolidate and then try to get back to the Welsh Premier in the future.

After a poor start to the campaign, Ellis explained what was going on when the going was tough in that period.

“Many people don’t understand that division one is a tough league. Coming up from the Premier meant we were always going to be targeted as the main team to beat and it still remains the case that we are the scalp that everyone wants.”

The Bluebirds lacked confidence and were not helped by pre-season injuries to strikers Richard Ryan and Nicky Woodrow.

“Losing both our strikers meant we were finding it increasingly hard to score goals and that put us under immense pressure. We were hoping Luke Robinson would fit in from the second team, but he also picked up an injury and is still out of action.”

Ellis admitted that his team took a long time to settle in the division.

“We lost too many points at the start and that unsettled us,” added Ellis.

“Leighton James also came on board and he got rid of players and that again didn’t help us when he also left the club.”

Slowly but surely the Bluebirds are starting to fire on all cylinders again.

Players of the calibre of Chris O’Sullivan and Dave Evans, who were released by James, were quickly brought them back into the fold by Ellis.

“I want to give our local talent a chance of playing a good standard of football. Sully and Evans both played in the Welsh Premier and I’m confident they can perform in this league, so that’s why I brought them back.

“Ricky Watts has been outstanding in the heart of our midfield. Last year he was a bit part player – but now the teenager is one of the first names on the team sheet.”

The average age of the current squad is 26, and Ellis is determined to bring stability and instill confidence into his squad.

On the playing side Bluebirds have reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation from a 3-5-3 and it has worked a treat.

“There’s a good balance in the team, but we have a small squad and injuries or suspensions have a bearing on what happens during the course of a season.

“There are at least ten locals involved in the squad and you can’t say that we don’t give home grown talent a chance anymore.”

Ellis is determined that his brand of football will be successful. “I like to see every player comfortable with the ball at their feet. From 1 to 11 they all need to be able to knock it about and work hard.

“Nothing will ever be achieved without working hard. We are looking to improve training facilities in the future at the club, so that we can build our teams from within – but everything takes time and money.”

Ellis was part of the set up when Haverfordwest County finished third in the Welsh Premier 2003/04 season and went on to play in Europe for the first time in the club’s history.

“I’d like to think we could achieve that again in my lifetime,” he said.