Smith: Time not on my side at Tooting (From Your Local Guardian)

Smith: Time not on my side at Tooting

10:35am Monday 11th January 2010 in

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Billy Smith reckons he missed a trick by not moving back to Tooting & Mitcham a decade ago, and admits he is facing a battle against time to achieve his goals at Imperial Fields.

The 67-year-old has piloted the Terrors to Ryman Division One South promotion and moved them into the Ryman Premier play-off places since his arrival in 2006.

And the veteran boss accepts he does not have long left to make a lasting impact.

Smith said: “In all honesty I wish I had come back to Tooting ten years ago as who knows what we could achieved by now?

“The simple fact is time is not on my side and I am trying to do things here in a hurry.

“I cannot go somewhere and say I have a five-year plan as that would mean I was 72 and I don’t think that is realistic.

“But I am going hell for leather at Tooting this season.

“This is easily the club closest to my heart and we have a massive opportunity to create something special this season.

“If we fail we fail, but it will not be for the want of trying.”

Tooting host struggling Billericay Town this weekend as they look to get their first clash of 2010 under their belts.

And Smith insists his team is in good shape for a promotion drive.

He added: “Each year I have been here we have got better as the season progressed and really picked things up.

“But this season we have had a great start as well.

“The key for us now is consistency - we have a small squad and if we can stay injury-free then there is no reason at all why we cannot make a real run at this.”

Tooting & Mitcham’s next three matches: Jan 16 Billericay Town (h), 18 Boreham Wood (h), 23 Aveley (a)