Andrew Dunn speaks with new first team coach, Adam Fisher.

Over the weekend Adam Fisher was unveiled as a new member of the management team at the Quattro-tech Westwood Road Stadium and is ready and excited for a new challenge.

His CV is certainly impressive.  After a spell as a coach at Barton Rovers, Fisher made the switch to become Manager at Welwyn Garden City.  A seven-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Citizens proved to be successful as he guided the club to step 4 football for the first time in their history.  His time at Welwyn came to an end when he felt the club didn’t share the same ambitions to move it forward so he switched to a role at Hertford before moving to Baldock.  After leaving Baldock, he has spent some time scouting for various clubs but is now relishing the opportunity at St Ives.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said Fisher.  “I’ve known Ricky Marheineke for a while.  We have spoken previously about me joining and when he spoke to me again during the current closed season, it felt right for me to link-up with him and the rest of the management team.  We met again last week to finalise things and it’s great to be involved again.  Like with any new role, it will take me time to get my feet under the table, but the pre-season will be for me to adjust to that and get used to how Ricky and the rest of the team work.  But I’m really looking forward to meeting the players when we report back next week”.

Despite having pre-season to get to know the players, Fisher will still have to hit the ground running as his boss is away for the first two games of the season.  “I don’t think Ricky has lost many opening games, so the pressure will be on.  But seriously, I always judge the start of the season as a crucial part of the campaign.  You don’t want to get off to a bad start and play catch-up, you want to get points on the board early doors.  If you look at the form towards the end of last season, we were decent and we will be looking to replicate that in the opening matches”.

Fisher is also an admirer of the new facilities at the Quattro-tech Westwood Road Stadium.  “They are great” he said.  “Having a 3G pitch ensures a lot of things as not only is it great for the community, but it guarantees training and also, it’s a good selling point when you want to sign new players”.  

Like with anyone who follows football, Fisher is excited for the new season.  “If I didn’t think the club was moving in an upward trajectory or if I couldn’t make a difference, I wouldn’t have accepted the job.  Our absolute minimum once again will be to retain our step 3 status.  But who says we can’t push on from that?  You look at what North Leigh achieved as a Step 4 club last year.  They were one of the favourites for the drop, and gate crashed the play-offs and ended up getting promoted.  So, we should take inspiration from that and I am looking forward to the challenge”.

Supporters can see how the Saints are shaping up ahead of the new campaign with a number of pre-season friendlies throughout July.