As August's fixture schedule came to a close the Gaffer was, once again, honest about a start to the season that 'wasn't too bad.'
Reflecting on the season so far, Phil Brown explained his mixed emotions but pinpointed the character of the side as the main positive to take.
“You’ve witnessed a decent start to the season – we’re not thrilled with it by any stretch. I know there’s character in there, there’s still a little of, shall we say, trouble in there. I’m there to manage it.
“That’ll get us to where we want to be – we’ve got eight points from five games. Today was one of them where we chased a win having drawn on Tuesday night in unusual circumstances – but we’re undefeated from the two games away from home this week, so you can’t say it’s too bad.
“It’s my impression that the character that we started to show against Forest Green, against Crawley is definitely in the camp.”
It has been a relentless start to the campaign for Town, who have played twice a week since the curtain-raiser against Macclesfield.
“It’s a good time for a week without a game, for the whole squad – we’ll have a little bit of rest and recovery, more training, more tactics, more technical work and we’ll have some good preparation for MK Dons.”
When asked about his want for a new centre-half Brown stayed to true to his comments throughout the transfer window.
“As I’ve said to you all transfer window I’m desperate to bring in a centre-half – it was good to have Dion Conroy on the bench today. If you work hard enough, show enough desire, commitment and character to keep your shirt it’s as simple as that – I’m not really bothered about: ‘He’s a better player than him.’
“It’s up to the two centre-halves to keep their shirts or give them away. I know Dion Conroy is a very capable centre-half waiting to come in.
“I’d still like to bring another one in.”
Finally, on news that Lawrence Vigouroux has been called up to the Chile, Brown said it was fully deserved.
“Lawrence Vigouroux has been called up by Chile so he’s going to be away for a couple of games but we’ve got an able goalkeeper working just behind you (refers to Luke McCormick). The squad’s going to get tested this year – it’s never ever going to be about 11 players, it’s going to be about 16-17 outfield and a couple of goalkeepers.
“Lawrence is a very, very good player – I knew I was getting a quality goalkeeper that should be higher than this division. Bottom line, he is where he is, perhaps because of circumstances beyond his control, I don’t know.
“When I inherited the football club, ten games to go before the end of last season, finding Lawrence Vigouroux, when I went over to Ireland, not in our team – I just couldn’t work it out.
“I believe he’s enjoying his football and it’s testimony to him enjoying his football in getting an international call up.”
