TIM Flowers insists survival is the aim for Bromsgrove Sporting with the new Rouslers boss to watch his side from the stands for the first time this weekend.
Former Premier League-winning goalkeeper and England international Flowers replaced Michael McGrath as Sporting manager earlier this week.
Rouslers captain Luke Rowe and vice-captain Aaron Roberts will select the team for their game at Mickleover this weekend with Flowers looking forward to the challenge of keeping the club in the Southern League Premier Central.
Flowers said: “I’m honoured and delighted, it was unexpected, I had a conversation with the chairman and he asked me to come in on an interim basis until the end of the season, it’s a super football club.
“Luke Rowe and Aaron Roberts will be taking the side on Saturday, I’ll be at the game and then diving into the team next week.
“I live two junctions up the M42 from the ground, there’s a hell of a lot of football clubs in a very small area, I watch a lot of levels [of football].
“I’m looking forward to it, I’ve seen a lot of teams play in this division, I’ve got 12 games and we need points to secure our status in the division next season and that’s the aim.”
The 56-year-old is keen to cast his eye over the squad and has already secured the services of two players on month-long loan deals in the form of Finn Howell and Mark Derricott.
Flowers added: “One of the reasons the boys are taking the team on Saturday, I want to have a real good look at what we’ve got under the roof.
“We probably need to beef the squad up, it is thin, there are certain areas we need to strengthen if we can, it’s not going to be easy in mid-February.
“In a 12-game spell I’ll try and strip it back and make it as simple for people to take on board as I possibly can, our goals for column definitely needs improving.
“I want a very hard-working side that puts the opposition on the back foot and try and make our ground hot to come to and play.”
Sporting sit 17th in the Southern League Premier Central table, nine points above the relegation zone, with Flowers hopeful of extending his stay at the Victoria Ground beyond the end of the current campaign.
He said: “I’ve got a 12-game gig, would I like to be here next year? Yeah, absolutely, it’s a really good football club, that will be governed in the next 12 games.
“Everyone is saying we need to avoid the drop, can we try and get mid-table or top-half, we’re not a million miles away from that.
“Why do we have to be defeatist and think we’re looking over our shoulder, let’s try and get some results on the board and see if we can kick on and finish as high as we possibly can.
“There’s some talented boys here, all of a sudden they’ve slipped down and find themselves in a slightly precarious position, now we’ll see what they’ve got under their shirt and who is going to stand up and fight.”
Bromsgrove travel to Mickleover on Saturday, February 10 with kick-off at 3pm at the Don Amott Arena.
