Season can't come quickly enough for new boss

Matt Howard can't wait to get cracking at Carshalton Athletic after being officially unveiled on Tuesday morning as the new manager of the Ryman South's Robins, writes James Barrett.

Howard, pictured, left Corinthian Casuals at the weekend to make the switch to Colston Avenue and succeed Robert Scantlebury who stood down last Thursday after securing the club's Ryman League status.

A former coach at Fulham, AFC Wimbledon and Woking, as a manager Howard has led both Casuals and Chessington and Hook United to record points totals in recent seasons.

Now he's looking forward to masterminding the Robins' bid to win promotion back into the Ryman's top flight next season following their 20th place finish under his predecessor.

With the Robins set to kick off on a new FIFA approved 3G pitch in August once it is laid this summer, Howard said: “I think I’m the only manager who wants the season to start tomorrow. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave Casuals but I feel Carshalton is a big club with huge potential and I’m looking forward to a new challenge.

“Carshalton has a marvellous youth set-up here, which will offer me a route to fresh talent, but I have also identified three or four other more experienced players I’d like to try and bring in. I do believe the current first-team squad is in good shape however and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in due course."

Howard, who insists he goes into every new season with the same outlook, improvement on the one before, added: “My first thought is always to finish as high as possible but realistically, after finishing 20th last season, I have to consider all angles. We’ll go into every game striving to win and let’s see if our desire puts us into first, the play-offs or the top 12.”

Carshalton’s chairman Paul Dipre added: "Matt has the right background and necessary experience to deliver what this club requires. He has been successful with both young and experienced players alike.

"His base objectives will be to continue help develop our home-grown players while we aim to secure promotion back to the Ryman Premier as soon as possible."

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