Steven Schumacher will send Wanderers out for the first time this afternoon at the start of a mission he hopes will see the Whites play their way to success, writes Pete Oliver.
Schumacher inherits a team with the chance to move into the play-off places with victory in his first game in charge at Reading.
Wanderers’ new Head Coach has had just one day on the training ground with his new charges following his appointment on Thursday night.
But the former Plymouth boss knows what it takes to win promotion from League One from his days at Home Park and believes he will be working with players capable of fitting his blueprint and entertaining the fans.
“It’s a squad that’s got huge potential. I think it’s a squad that can be adaptable and play in different styles and different systems,” said Schumacher.
“The majority of the players – and that’s another thing that excites about this job –are footballers, who can play good football, and we’ll play a style that isn’t too dissimilar or unfamiliar to what I’ve been used to working with.
“What I want my teams to do, first and foremost, is to play with energy. I like to play fast and forwards, aggressive front-foot mentality type of teams.
“That’s what we’ve tried to do at all the clubs we’ve worked for. The fans have enjoyed watching the football and I’m sure it will be the same here.
“Fans pay to be entertained and they also pay to see a team that’s representing their club, giving 100 per cent effort every single game, and that’s what we’ll demand from the players, that they put in performances the fans can appreciate and respect.
“That will be the message to the lads; go and be themselves, play with confidence and hopefully we can get a few results on the board and keep the season going in the way we want it to go and achieve the objectives the club is desperate to do.”
Wanderers go to Reading in good shape, having kept themselves around the top six under former boss Ian Evatt and then picking up successive wins under the interim management team of Julian Darby, Andy Taylor and Andrew Tutte.
That burst of points has restored momentum with 16 games still to go and as well as the support of new coaching staff members Mark Hughes and Richie Kyle and his own observations, Schumacher will call on the help of the caretaker team for the trip to the Royals.
“I’ve watched both games this week. Discussions had been on-going for some time, as these things tend to do, so I’ve done as much homework as possible on Reading,” Schumacher added.
“I want to congratulate Julian, Andy and Andrew for the work they’ve done this week. I think it’s important they come with us this weekend because the players have responded brilliantly to them.
“They will be part of the team at the weekend. That’s important for us that we give ourselves the best opportunity to go and get a good result down there.
“Where this club can get to there’s no limit, so I’m really excited and I can’t wait to get going.”