New St Francis Rangers boss: 'My first aim is to stop this from being embarrassing'

Barnet FC’s Head of Academy Recruitment, Joe Monks, has taken the reigns at St Francis Rangers, who sit bottom of the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division.

Rangers have lost all of their 23 games, scoring just three times, and have a goal difference of -156.

Despite this, new boss Monks believes that he can make his side competitive in the league.

He said: “My aim is to come in and make the boys competitive.

“I’m not going to come in and say ‘I’m going to keep them up’, as you have to be realistic and look at where we are in the league.

“I’m going to set the boys up tactically, be defensive and hopefully grab a goal on the break.

“I have a blank canvas to do what I want here, and my first aim is to stop this from being embarrassing.”

With just one player who has scored a goal still contracted to the club, Monks is looking to use his contacts to bring new players to the Colwell Ground.

He said: “I have signed eight lads from Barnet and four from other South London and Sussex clubs.

“These boys are aged between 17 and 22 and it will be with a view to see how they deal with the men’s game physically, as technically they are certainly good enough.

“We will see who can deal with the standard, and then look to move them up to the u21s and beyond, and with the ones who don’t cope as well, we’ll take a more strategic approach to them.

“I’m also going to be bringing in three or four players who are in their mid 20s, as well as keeping players that are here already, to add more experience to the squad.”

Monks also spoke about discussions he has had with local non-league bosses to gain more knowledge of the league.

“I know Beardy (Mark Beard, Loxwood) very well and I’ve been speaking to Garry Wilson (Hastings United) and Mark Hendon (Brighton and Hove Albion).

“My job has been looking at non-league football from the Conference down to step six for the last seven years, so I know a fair bit about the game.

“Myself and my coaches also have our coaching badges, and I’ve been involved in running youth sides in the past.”

St Francis’ next league game is a home fixture against Eastbourne Town on Saturday 6th February.

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