Ballard: “We can do some good things here”

New Aylesbury United manager Andy Ballard says the club’s ambition and plans to return to the town were key factors in his decision to take the job.

Speaking in his first interview since being appointed, Ballard outlined his hopes for the Ducks, his approach to management and the importance of supporters as he gets to work.

“I’ve known Aylesbury for years,” he said. “I’m old enough to remember that Aylesbury were flying high in the Southern League back in the early 2000s."

“The plan for the club, the vision and the journey back to the town is really something that I was interested in, and ultimately why I applied for the job.”

For Ballard, the opportunity goes beyond the immediate challenge on the pitch. The prospect of helping prepare United for a return home, backed by the club’s supporters, was a significant attraction.

“Knowing what the club can be once it gets back to the town, the level of supporters and all the infrastructure around it - the idea of being back at a new ground within the town was something that sparked my interest."

“I think we can do some good things here.”

Ballard arrives with seven years’ experience as assistant manager at Oxford City, alongside a previous spell managing Didcot Town at Step 4. He believes those experiences have given him a clear understanding of what is needed, while remaining adaptable to the demands of this level.

“We want to get the ball down and play fast, attacking football, but also we want to be organised and defensively strong,” he explained.

“I think you need to be pragmatic at this level of football. We’ll try and embed that ethos into the players in the coming weeks, and hopefully results start to turn.”

Improving United’s defensive organisation is an early priority. Much of Ballard’s work at Oxford City focused on the team’s play out of possession, and he hopes to put that experience to good use with the Ducks.

“If you look at the goals against, that tells a story,” he said. “But ultimately, we still need to score goals, so we don’t want to work on the defensive side to the detriment of our attacking ability. It’s a balance for us.”

Ballard also sees plenty to build on within the current squad, describing the players as a young, honest group whose effort is clear.

“There are some good, talented young players in that team,” he said. “The boys are trying everything. They’re working ever so hard.”

Asked what success would look like over the remainder of the season, the new manager avoided setting a league position, instead focusing on performances and results.

“We want to win games of football, as simple as that. If we can get the boys playing in the right way going forward, scoring goals and keeping clean sheets, I think that will be a success for us.”

His final message was to the supporters, asking for their backing as he begins the task ahead.

“Stick with us, give us some time, but you’ll see a change, and hopefully we can get the results that you deserve.”

Interview by Rob Waller and Ben Slater.