7:32am Friday 16th May 2008
By Simon Fitzjohn
Tooting & Mitcham boss Billy Smith has revealed improvements off the field, rather than on it, will be the priority this summer.
The Terrors are preparing for life in the Ryman League Premier Division after securing promotion with a play-off final victory over Cray Wanderers.
And Smith is looking forward to the club's facilities getting a promised overhaul.
He said: "We had a training ground last year but it never really took off.
"The ground was too dilapidated.
"Now we are getting a new ground for next season and floodlights are being put in.
"The grass on our playing pitch is also being relaid, and that will really help our style of football."
Smith is relishing the prospect of his side playing an expansive game, having battled their way out of the Ryman Division One South.
He added: "As a team, we have had to change the way we play and the players have adapted really well to that.
"I can understand why we have been in the Ryman South for so long, as it is a very hard division to get out of.
"We have had to play a lot of long-ball football and pack the midfield with ballwinners.
"It was all about getting results.
"Now we are out of that I hope the players can express themselves a bit more.
"I have managed in the Ryman Premier and Conference South before and I will be banging the drum that it is the teams who play football who succeed."
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