BRAD QUINTON believes a wretched past few months could hold clues to Enfield Town's slow start to the new season.
The Ryman Premier club hit the headlines at the end of the last campaign when they were denied the chance to compete in the play-offs after discovering late on that they were to be docked points for fielding the ineligible Aryan Tajbakhsh back in early January.
The drawn-out legal battle came as Quinton, 36, was heavily linked with the vacant managerial position at Braintree Town.
He remained at Enfield, and was forced to watch no fewer than four of his star players undergo trials at pro clubs.
Their moves didn't materialise either, and Quinton says he has had to work hard to get their heads back in the game after the disappointment.
Rejection
The Towners, the country's first supporter-owned club, have started poorly with six defeats in their first nine games.
And Quinton said: “The close season certainly wasn't an easy one for a lot of people involved with the club.
“The play-off situation took its toll. There was a lot going on behind the scenes and there was no way I could have left (for Braintree) with solicitors involved and with things how they were.
“I think a few of our players who were noticed because of how well we ended last season to make the top five are still suffering a bit. A number of them went to clubs on trial and didn't even hear back from some clubs. It's taken a bit out of them, rejection is tough, but it's my job to pick them back up.”
Injuries have played their part too, as has the team's inability to keep goals out from set pieces.
Quinton added: “Out of the ten we've let in, all but the two at Canvey Island have come from dead ball situations – penalties, free-kicks and corners. We're not really conceding from open play which is positive but we need to sort things out.
“Our injury problems have hurt us. Our physio room is packed to the rafters, Dave Lawson our medical man is earning his keep!
“A lot of people want to bring us down now after the great job we did getting into the play-offs last season and the run we went on, we're well watched now.
“Last season proved nothing is settled in the first few months of any season. We'll roll up our sleeves like we did last year.”
